UMass-Lowell Downs Bentley in NCAA D-II Field Hockey Semifinals

BLOOMSBURG-- Sammy Macy scored two goals to lead UMass-Lowell (20-4) to a 3-2 win over Bentley University (17-6) in the semifinals of the 2008 NCAA Division II national field hockey championships being played at Bloomsburg University.

The River Hawks controlled the flow of the game for much of the first half getting six penalty corners in the first 12 minutes of play. On the seventh corner of the half Macy tipped in a shot by Michelle Harrington getting the game's first goal at the 13:25 mark. Later in the half Katie Enaire scored off another penalty corner when she tipped a shot by Molly Clay to make it 2-0.

Bentley, which had a 16-game winning streak snapped, came back offensively and got on the board in the 29th minute when Courtney Bartlett scored after Krissy Lanzillio took a shot that rebounded off the pads of goalie Amy Carbon.

In the second half, UIML stretched its lead to 3-1 when Macy scored her second with a deflection of a shot by Jamie Hadley at 39:46.

Bentley got one more goal from Bartlett in the 48th minute with Jenna Panzone getting the assist, but that would be all for the Falcons. The River Hawks controlled play for the remaining portion of the game to gain a rematch with Bloomsburg in the NCAA Division II title game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Bentley coach Jessica King said her team never gave up.

"UML was sharper than we were in the beginning, but we came to life late in the half," said King. "I am proud that the team did not give up on the game or the season, especially when we were 1-5. I just wish we were able to get more hardware for the seniors. They gave their heart and soul to the team."

This will be the third time in the last four years that UMass-Lowell and Bloomsburg will face each other in the national title game. The River Hawks beat the Huskies in 2005 at Shippensburg for their first-ever NCAA title with the Huskies winning their 11th D-II title last year at Lowell.