BOX SCORE

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Nov. 7, 2007) – Seventeenth ranked Skidmore College scored twice in the opening 13 minutes and the defense made it stand in a 2-0 win over #20 Alvernia College Wednesday afternoon in first round action of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championships.

Senior Casey Tang (Columbia, Md.) scored the opener on the Thoroughbreds (14-5) first corner of the afternoon. The initial shot came from the top of the circle and DeLea cleaned up the rebound to put the hosts on the board.

Alvernia (16-6) responded moving the ball right back down the field after the goal, but Skidmore freshman Liz Catinella (Sudbury, Mass.) turned aside Alvernia senior Shayna Clark (Leesport, Pa.) looking for the equalizer. Catinella, who finished with six saves to record her seventh shutout of the season, stopped Ashley Tatangelo (Hummelstown, Pa.) two minutes later to preserve the 1-0 lead.

Senior Shalia DeLea (Cornish, Mass.) posted her second goal of the day eight minutes after the first assisted by junior Anne Murphy (San Fransisco, Calif.). It was the 15th goal of the season for the senior.

Alvernia earned its first corner of the day three minutes later, but couldn't find the net on back-to-back corners and went into halftime down 2-0. Skidmore held a slight 7-4 advantage in first-half shots and corners were even at two apiece.

The Thoroughbreds opened the second half with pressure in their offensive end, but a block and a save kept the Crusaders within reach. Alvernia junior Audrey Hoffman (Mertztown, Pa.) made seven saves after the halftime break and finished the day with 11 stops.

Three minutes into the second half it was Alvernia turning up the heat on a cold, cloudy day, but junior Christy Miller (Alburtis, Pa.) was stopped by Catinella on successive shots.

Possessions went back and forth for the remainder of the half with Hoffman making a few brilliant saves to keep the Crusaders close, but the offense couldn't quite finish against Catinella.

Skidmore will travel to #1 Bowdoin College on Saturday for a second-round match-up with the Polar Bears. The Championship Final Four will be hosted by Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa.

#17 Skidmore 2, #20 Alvernia 0