Hamilton College fired two shots in the final 10 seconds of the game, but Salisbury University hung on to edge the Continentals, 7-6 in the 2010 NCAA Division III national championship game played at Gettysburg's Clark Field on May 23.
With Salisbury ahead 7-6, a turnover by the Sea Gulls gave Hamilton the ball with 53 seconds left. Hannah Hoar '13 took a shot that was blocked by one of the Sea Gulls. Liz Rave '10 picked up the ground ball, and fired a shot on goal that was saved by the Salisbury goalie. Rave grabbed the ground ball again and sent a pass to Schultz. Just after time expired, Libby Schultz '12 fired a shot --that would have been the game tying goal-- past the Sea Gulls' goalie.
The Continentals were playing in their second championship final in the last three years. Hamilton finished its season with a 21-1 overall record. Hamilton tied its record for wins in a season that was set in 2008. Salisbury (20-1) earned its first national title.
Kate Fowler '10 tied a career-high with 14 saves, turning aside seven shots in each half. Fowler also recorded 14 saves in a 13-9 win last year in a regional final against Middlebury College. Rave scored three goals, picked up two ground balls and caused two turnovers for the Continentals. Rave has recorded 140 career goals, which puts her in fourth place on Hamilton's career goals list. Anne Graveley '11, Schultz and Kate Otley '12 each scored one goal apiece. Rachel Friedman '13 earned one assist. Sarah Bray '11 picked up a team-high three ground balls, won two draw controls and caused two turnovers. Fowler, Rave and Bray were named to the 2010 all-tournment team.
Graveley put the Continentals on the scoreboard first with her 42nd goal this season, when she sent a low free position shot into the back of the net 2 minutes, 13 seconds into the game. At the 20:18 mark, Rave scored her first goal of the day. After a Salisbury foul, Rave started at the top of the fan and drove into the 8-meter. Her bouncing shot into the goal gave Hamilton a 2-0 lead.
At 18:52, Rave fired a free position shot into the goal from the right side to put Hamilton up by three. With 17:59 on the clock, Salisbury capitalized on a free position shot of its own to make the score 3-1.
With 11:35 left in the opening half, Hoar ripped a free position shot that hit the crossbar. The Continentals retained possession, and Otley drove in from right side and fired a high shot into the goal to give Hamilton a 4-1 advantage.
Salisbury rallied to score the next three goals. With 10:14 left in the first, Salisbury found the back of the net to cut its deficit to two at 4-2. Salisbury scored again with just 2:02 remaining to go into the break down one at 4-3.
The Sea Gulls opened the second half scoring the tying goal exactly one minute in. With 27:33 on the clock, Friedman sent a pass from the right side of the goal to find Schultz on the left side. Schultz jumped and sent a shot past the Salisbury goalie to take back the lead. It was Schultz's 30th goal this season.
Salisbury responded tying the game at for the second time at 5-5 at the 23:38 mark. One minute, 21 seconds later, the Continentals took back the lead on a Rave free position goal from the right side. Rave's jumping shot made the score 6-5 and was her 46th this season.
The Sea Gulls tied up the game at six with 17:42 on the clock. With 5:36 remaining, Salisbury scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal. It was the first time the Sea Gulls held the lead. Salisbury held a 31-26 advantage in shots and a 16-12 edge in ground balls. The Sea Gulls won eight draw controls, while the Continentals won seven. Hamilton was successful on 14 of its 18 clears, and Salisbury was successful on 14 of 17. The Continentals comitted 14 turnovers and Sea Gulls turned the ball over eight times.
Courtesy: Hamilton Athletics
