Date: Friday, November 3, 2000

TUFTS HOSTS ECAC FIELD HOCKEY FINAL FOUR THIS WEEKEND

The Keene State College Owls, the Wesleyan University Cardinals and the Clark University Cougars have travelled to Tufts University this weekend to join the Jumbos in vying for the 2000 ECAC New England Division III Field Hockey Championship.

Host and #1 seed Tufts (10-7) is seeking its third ECAC title, but first since 1996. Fourth seed Wesleyan (11-5) is the defending champion looking for their second ECAC crown. The Jumbos and Cardinals, members of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), face off in Saturday's first game at 11 a.m. in a rematch of last year's ECAC Championship Game. Wesleyan won that contest, 2-0.

Second seed Keene State (17-5), from the Little East Alliance, and sixth seed Clark (14-6), from the New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), play each other at 1:30 pm. They are both attempting to win their first ECAC titles. Saturday's semi-final winners will play for the championship on Sunday at noon.

Tufts advanced to the semi-finals by beating NESCAC rival Bates College, the #8 seed, 1-0 on penalty strokes Wednesday. After 100 minutes of scoreless regulation and two overtimes, Jumbo senior co-captain Colette Gaudet was the only player to score in the penalty strokes round. Tufts could have won the game easier but for the outstanding play of Bobcat senior keeper Peggy Ficks, who finished with 20 saves.

Wesleyan needed two overtimes to eliminate in-state rival and #5 seed Connecticut College, 1-0, in the first round. Sophomore Laura Pfeiffenberger scored with 7:56 remaining in the second extra session to win it for the Cardinals. Senior co-captain Carlin Aloe set up the goal for her school-record 14th assist of the season.

Playing under the lights on Wednesday, Keene State advanced with a 3-1 win over #7 seed Mount Holyoke College. Playing in her final home game, senior Kelly Smith had a goal and an assist to lead the way. The Owls led 1-0 at halftime and then scored twice six minutes apart early in the second half to put the game away. Goalkeeper Lindsay Hamilton lost the shutout when Mount Holyoke's Amy Gimbel scored off a corner after time expired.

Clark upset #3 seed and NEWMAC rival Wellesley College, 3-0, in the first round. Sophomore Julie Mazeika scored two goals to pace the Cougars, who avenged a 2-1 loss to Wellesley in the NEWMAC Tournament semi-finals on Saturday. It was a 1-0 game until late in the second half when Clark scored twice in the final three minutes.

Saturday's game is a rubber match for Tufts and Wesleyan. When the teams met during the regular season on October 10, Sonya Behnke set up two goals for the Cardinals in a 2-1 win. The Jumbos got revenge with a 2-1 win in two overtimes in the first round of the NESCAC Tournament on October 24. Freshman Brooke Christian scored with just 41 seconds remaining. Tufts and Wesleyan are the only two teams here that have played each other previously this season.

Keene, Wesleyan and Clark are all averaging approximately two and half goals per game. Tufts is the best defensive team in the final four with a 1.19 goals against average. Keene's Smith is the top goal scorer here this weekend with 16, followed closely by teammate Carrie Trudeau's 15. Clark has the tournament's only other two double-digit goal scorers in Jessica Petitt (14) and Lynne Casey (13).

Each team has veteran goalkeeping. Tufts keeper Dena Sloan sports a 0.86 goals against average. Keene's Hamilton has been similarly successful with a 0.84 goals allowed mark. Wesleyan senior Taryn Hutchins-Cabibi brings a 1.53 gaa mark into Saturday's game. Unlike the other three, Clark's Lynne Bachand has played every minute this season and has a 1.55 gaa.

Tufts, which lost 2-1 to Bowdoin in the NESCAC Tournament semi-finals, has won three of its last four games all in double overtime or penalty strokes. Keene State, which lost 1-0 to Plymouth State in the Little East Championship Game, has victories in five of its last six games entering the tournament. Wesleyan stopped a two-game slide with their quarterfinal win over Connecticut College. Clark has won five of its last six games and nine out of 11 entering the weekend.