Lindenwood University Repeats as ECAC DII Field Hockey Tournament Champions
Boxscore Bracket Tournament Central
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Lindenwood University Lions (17-2, 9-1 ECAC) captured their second consecutive ECAC Division II Field Hockey League Championship on Sunday, defeating the Limestone College Saints (15-4, 9-1 ECAC) 3-0 at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium on the campus of Lindenwood University.
Lindenwood opened the scoring early behind ECAC All-Tournament MVP Bridget Hoogendijk (Hendrik Ido Ambacht, Netherlands). Just 2:48 into the game, Caro Theunisz (Maastricht, Netherlands) sent in a shot from the right wing and the ball was deflected in by Hoogendijk.
Later on in the half, the Lions struck again. Greta Banholzer (Hartland, Wis.) took a shot from the right wing that was blocked, she collected her own rebound and passed it in front to Jessie Londono (Merrimack, N.H.) who shot it into the back of the net. The score would remain the same heading into the half.
Just under ten minutes into the half, Londono scrambled into the front of the cage, and passed it to Graycen Dave (Asheville, N.C.) who picked up the goal to expand the lead to 3-0. After a lengthy delay due to severe weather the game resumed. Limestone provided constant pressure, at one point having three consecutive penalty corners that were stopped by the Lindenwood defense. All-Tournament Team Goalie Skylar Starbeck (San Jose, Ca.) had a great game, picking up a shutout and recording four saves in the win.
Earlier in the day, the Bellarmine University Knights (9-11, 5-5 ECAC) defeated the Newberry College Wolves (6-14, 3-7 ECAC) 4-3 in the ECAC Division II Field Hockey Tournament Consolation game.
Newberry jumped out to an early lead as Krystyna Oyola (Virginia Beach, Va.) was fed a pass from Megan Eisenhardt (Pasadena, Md.) who worked the ball in from the right side of the cage. Bellarmine would respond later on in the half with two goals from Mandi Isom (St. Louis, Mo.) and Lindsay Reynolds (Louisville, Ky.). With just under nine minutes remaining in the game, Newberry was able to tie up the score as Brady Keeler (Bridgeville, Del.) flicked the ball over the keeper in the top right corner. The game went all the way into double overtime when Merit Harris (Louisville, Ky.) ran up the right side, split two defenders at the circle and finished five yards out.
2017 ECAC DII Field Hockey League All-Tournament Team
MVP: Bridget Hoogendijk, Lindenwood
F: Kristyna Oyola, Newberry
F: Bridget Hoogendijk, Lindenwood
F: Merit Harris, Bellarmine
F: Mandi Isom, Bellarmine
M: Jessie Londono, Lindenwood
M: Kate Remley, Limestone
M: Cassidy Coates, Limestone
D: Mary Ringwald, Bellarmine
D: Nicole Johnston, Lindenwood
D: Cameron Felch, Limestone
GK: Skylar Starbeck, Lindenwood
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