11/5/07

Field hockey to take on Middlebury

FARMINGTON – The University of Maine at Farmington field hockey team (13-5) is scheduled to visit Middlebury College (13-4) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Wednesday at 1 p.m.

UMF’S ROAD TO THE TOURNAMENT: The Beavers reached the tournament by winning its fourth North Atlantic Conference title in five seasons with a 3-1 victory over Husson College on Sunday at Prescott Field.

Farmington scored its three goals in the first 20 minutes against the Eagles with Rebecca Roy (Skowhegan, ME) tallying two of the scores and Kristin Chambers (Gorham, ME) dding a goal and an assist.

Chambers was named the NAC Tournament MVP with Erika Lucas (Augusta, ME), Nicole Lyons (Cape Elizabeth, ME), Renee Trafton (Corinth, ME) and Ashley Wentworth (North Berwick, ME) receiving NAC All-Tournament honors.

The Beavers reached the conference finals with a 12-0 quarterfinal win against Elms College and a 2-0 semifinal victory versus Lasell College.

ABOUT MIDDLEBURY: The Panthers, ranked ninth in the nation according to the STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, received an at-large bid into the field. Middlebury fell to Bowdoin College 3-1 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference final on Sunday in Brunswick, Maine.

The Panthers are making their fifth consecutive and eighth overall appearance at NCAAs. Middlebury won the national championship at 1998 and won regionals in 2003 and 2004.

Reid Berrien leads the team with 18 goals and 41 points, while Heather McCormack follows with 10 goals, six assists and 26 points.

Caitlin Pentifallo has started every game and played every minute in goal for Middlebury with a 1.47 goals-against average over 1190:42.

NATIONALLY-RANKED: Farmington goalkeeper Kaeleigh Barker (Chichester, NH) is ranked nationally in goals-against average and save percentage. As of Oct. 28, Barker was third in the nation in save percentage (.886) and 10^th in GAA (0.95). As a team, the Beavers are second in .save percentage (.888) and seventh in GAA (0.85).

HEALTHY BEAVERS: Farmington has started the same 11 players for each of its contests this season. The starters have been Kristin Chambers (Gorham, ME), Amanda Fortin (Jefferson, ME), Ashley Wentworth (North Berwick, ME), Andrea Tyler (Augusta, ME), Elyse Cole (Winthrop, ME), Bethany Marshall (York, ME), Nicole Lyons (Cape Elizabeth, ME), Erika Lucas (Augusta, ME), Renee Trafton (Corinth, ME), Ashley Weeks (Wilton, ME) and, in goal, Kaeleigh Barker (Chichester, NH).

Bracket   Directions to Middlebury