#15 UAlbany upended by #13 Boston U in America East Field Hockey Championship Final

Cambridge, Mass. -- Pam Spuehler scored one goal and added two assists to lead Boston University, the nation's 13th-ranked team, to a 4-1 victory over UAlbany in the America East Conference Field Hockey Championship on Sunday, Nov. 4 at MIT's Jack Barry Field. The Terriers won their third straight conference championship.

UAlbany (15-5) struck first on a penalty corner goal scored by freshman Sam Daly at 21:11. Jess Lindsey and Anouk Vandenberg assisted on the tally, which was redirected into the top left-hand corner from the middle of the circle. Boston U. came back a minute later and capitalized on a corner, as Gabby Hajjar took a pass from Holly Wiles and got a shot past UAlbany goalkeeper Ashley Ross. The teams went back and forth for the remainder of the half, hitting the break tied at 1-1.

Spuehler, who was involved in the last three goals for Boston U., recorded her first points of the day in the 43rd minute, as Suus Dekker passed the ball from the left side and Spuehler blasted a shot from the top of the circle to the left corner of the cage. Hajjar scored again for the Terriers at 57:37, as Spuehler past from the right side. Hajjar got her stick on the ball in front of the cage to redirect in past Ross by the near post. Boston U. closed out the scoring in the 65th minute as Spuehler again came from the right and passed the ball to Hayley Hamada in front of the cage.

UAlbany outshot Boston U., 9-7, and held a 9-3 advantage in penalty corners, including 5-1 in the second half. Ross finished with one save for the Great Danes while America East rookie of the year Kim Kastuk had three saves in the cage. Boston U. (17-5) earned the conference's automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Field Hockey Championship. The Great Danes, who are ranked 15th in the latest NFHCA natonal poll, will wait to learn if they can claim an at-large bid into the national tournament.

America East Conference Championship

#15 UAlbany (15-5) 1 0 - 1
#13 Boston U. (17-5) 1 3 - 4

UAlbany: Scoring - Sam Daly (1-0), Jess Lindsey (0-1), Anouk Vandenberg (0-1). Goalkeeper - Ashley Ross (70:00, 4 GA, 1 save).

Boston U.: Scoring - Gabby Hajjar (2-0), Pam Spuehler (1-2), Hayley Hamada (1-0), Holy Wiles (0-1), Suus Dekker (0-1). Goalkeeper - Kim Kastuk (70:00, 1 GA, 3 saves).

America East All-Championship Team

Pam Spuehler, Boston U., Most Outstanding Player
Suus Dekker, Boston U.
Sarah Shute, Boston U.
Holly Wiles, Boston U.
Michelle Simpson, UAlbany
Anouk Vandenberg, UAlbany
Ashley Ross, UAlbany
Kim Striegler, Vermont
Kelly McClintock, Vermont
Kiera Williams, New Hampshire
Sam Geary, New Hampshire