Late Goal Lifts Field Hockey into ECAC Semifinals

UNION, N.J. (11/12/08) - Junior Brittany Gibbs (West Deptford, N.J.) scored the game-winning goal with just over six minutes remaining to lift the Kean University field hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Frostburg State University in the first round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Mid-Atlantic Tournament on Wednesday evening.

The victory was the 15^th of the year for Kean (15-5), tying the school record for wins in a season, as the third-seeded Cougars advance to face second-seeded Wilkes University (18-3) n semifinal action.

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead early in the game, as rookie Olivia Triano (Keyport, N.J.) (pictured right) scored her ninth goal of the year with a shot to the upper right corner of the cage just 7:20 into the contest. 

With just 1:57 remaining in the first half, the Cougars extended the lead to 2-0 when freshman Lauren Kachnowski (Roselle Park, N.J.) picked up the loose ball off the right post and scored her first career goal.

In the second half, the Bobcats (15-7) quickly cut the deficit in half when sophomore Breanne Russell (Clements, Md.) scored just 1:50 into the half. 

The Bobcats tied the game just 6:08 later, as sophomore Brooke Tapman (Salisbury, Md.) scored the unassisted goal to know the game at 2-2.

Gibbs provided the decisive goal with 6:05 remaining in the contest, scoring off the assist from senior Katie McGee (Cherry Hill, N.J.) for her 24^th goal of the year.

With the assist, McGee (pictured left) now has 11 this season, breaking the single season mark of 10 held by Deanna Thomas (2003).

The Cougars had a 10-9 advantage in penalty corners, while Frostburg State held a 8-7 edge in shots. 

Kean goalkeeper Ashlie Berghold (Boyertown, Pa.) stopped one shot in the victory, while junior back Liesa Bohannon (Myerstown, Pa.) made a defensive save for the Bobcats.

The Cougars take on nationally ranked Wilkes University, a 2-1 winner over seventh-seeded Washington & Jefferson College, on Saturday, November 15, at a site and time to be determined.