SCHENECTADY, NY -- Senior midfielder Kate Marek scored with 11 seconds left in the first overtime session to lift #8 Hamilton College to a 4-3 victory over #6 Union College in the 2009 Liberty League Women's Lacrosse Championship Game at Frank Bailey Field Saturday. The Continentals, 14-2, won their third straight league title. The Dutchwomen, who have competed in the league title game in six straight seasons, fell to 14-3 and had a 12 game winning streak snapped. 

This was the fourth straight year that the teams met in the title game. Hamilton, the defending NCAA Champions, will return to the tournament with the automatic bid while Union will await a possible at large selection late Sunday night. 

Hamilton's Liz Rave was selected as the tournament Most Valuable Player, and was joined on the all-tourney team by teammates Katie Fowler, Kaillie Briscoe (Hamilton) and Elizabeth Benjamin. Union was represented by Kristin Joyce, Chelsea Charette, Allie Cuozzo and Cat Ruggiero. Rounding out the team were  Maggie Stevenson and Mary Kate Hannan of Rochester and Rosie Scheibel and Torie Allen of William Smith.

Marek took a feed in front just outside the crease from Briscoe to deposit her 18th of the season with 11 seconds remaining in the first three minute overtime session. After a break, the teams then played an additional three minutes and Union had a chance to tie in the final minute. But Marek caused a hugh turnover with 43 seconds left in the Hamilton end and her ground ball with 36 seconds left sealed the victory.

Both goaltenders were stellar as indicated by the score of these two high powered offensive teams. Entering the weekend, Ruggiero was ranked second in the nation in goals against average while Fowler was ranked seventh. Fowler made nine saves, including six in the second period. She sent the game into overtime with a screened save as time ran out, off a shot from Cuozzo. Union's Ruggiero also made nine saves, and she stopped three shots on free positions. Hamilton was one for six in free positions.

Union had a slight 18-16 shot advantage as well as a 22-18 ground ball edge. 

Briscoe opened the scoring with her 35th of the year at 29:19, and just 58 seconds later, the Continentals were up by two as Rave took a pass from Sarah Bray for her 38th of the season. Union's Joyce got the hosts on the board at 26:31 from Liz Zamore's feed, and tied the game with her 60th of the year at 13:45 to close out the first half scoring.  Rave's 39th at 21:51 came on a free position, but Joyce made it 61 for 2009 at 16:57 to tie the contest.

The four goals matched the low for Hamilton this season, set April 24 at Union in the 15-4 loss. It was also the fewest goals allowed by the Continentals.

Union's resume features regular season victories over ranked teams Middlebury, Cortland, Hamilton and William Smith this season, as the Dutchwomen await news on the possible NCAA playoff apperance.

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