Union, 11-3 overall and 7-1 in the conference, will face #4 seed Hamilton College (9-6, 5-3) at 11 a.m. in the first semifinal game Saturday. The other semifinal will feature #2 seed Skidmore College (12-3, 7-1) vs. #3 seed St. Lawrence University (8-4, 5-3) at 1:30 p.m., or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Sunday's championship game will be at 12 p.m., and the winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championships.
Three of the teams in this championship have received recognition in the latest IWLCA (Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association) poll. Union is ranked #17 nationally this week, while Skidmore is #19 and Hamilton also received votes. In NCAA Division III regional rankings, Union is #2, Skidmore #3 and Hamilton #6.
Union is guided by first year head coach Lacey French, and enters the tournament with a 10-game winning streak. On April 22, the Dutchwomen defeated Hamilton at home, 7-5, and Union has wins over Skidmore and St. Lawrence. Senior attack Molly Flanagan (Simsbury, CT/Loomis Chaffee) has 42 goals and 13 assists for 55 points, and senior attack Kathy Dolezal (Clearwater, FL/Williston Northampton) has 42 points coming on 35 goals and seven assists. Goaltender Rachel Beckman (Needham, MA/Needham) stands 8-3 and the junior netminder has a 7.98 goals against average and a .473 save percentage for the season.
Skidmore has won three straight and 10 of the last 12. The Thoroughbreds are led by second year head coach Beth Hallenbeck. Skidmore was a 9-3 victor at St. Lawrence on April 2 and also defeated Hamilton. Junior attack Annie Ledyard (West Grove, PA/Lawrenceville) has 26 goals and 34 points while senior midfielder Kate Shea (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs) has 25 goals and 29 points for the year. Junior goaltender Sarah Berheide (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs) has a 6.62 goals against mark and stands 12-3 with a .590 save percentage.
St. Lawrence is coached by Jodi Axtell, who is in her sixth season in Canton. The Saints had a 12-11 double-overtime home victory over Hamilton this spring. The Saints started the season 4-0, which included a four-OT win over league rival William Smith, which was ranked ninth at the time. Senior attack Caroline Cherry (Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy) is the leading goal scorer in the tournament, with 46 on the season, and has 52 points. Junior attack Susanna Whitaker-Ruahilly (Needham, MA/Concord Academy) has 19 goals and four assists. Sophomore goalie Rebecca Tibmers (Underhill, VT/Mount Mansfield Union) has a 6-4 record with a 10.52 GAA and .518 save percentage.
Hamilton is coached by Patty Kloidt, who is in her third season. The Continentals have lost three straight, but lost those games by a combined six goals and started the season losing by a tight 7-6 score vs. current #6 ranked Amherst. Sophomore midfielder Inga Stots (Clinton Corners/Millbrook School) has 40 goals and nine assists for 49 points while freshman midfielder Nicole Tetreault (Schenectady/Guilderland) has 25 goals and 29 points. Hamilton's goaltenders are sophomores, Kalley Greer (Whitby, ONT/Anderson Vocational) and Hilary Gamble (Potsdam/Loomis Chaffee). Greer is 3-4 with an 8.34 goals against mark and a .530 save percentage, while Gamble stands 6-2 with a 7.67 GAA and a .477 save mark.
The Liberty League champion will compete in an NCAA First Round game at a campus site on Wed., May 11. Regionals will be held on campus sites on May 14 and 15, and the four regional champions will compete at The College of New Jersey on May 21 and 22.
