A-10 CHAMPS! UMass Blanks Lock Haven, 2-0

Nov. 6, 2010

PHILADELPHIA - Jaime Bourazeris scored a first half goal, Alexa Sikalis added an insurance goal late in the game, and the defense put in a stellar performance to lead top-seed UMass field hockey (15-6) to a 2-0 victory over No. 2 seed Lock Haven (15-7) at Geasey Field to claim the Minutewomen's third Atlantic 10 Championship in four years. UMass will host NorPac champion Stanford in an NCAA play-in game at Garber Field on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Sikalis was named A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player, while she was joined on the All-Championship Team by teammates Katie Kelly and Makaela Potts.

The A-10 title is UMass' 12th, more than all other A-10 schools combined, and the third in four years under Head Coach Justine Sowry (2007 and 2008).

"The persistence the team showed this weekend was incredible," Sowry said. "Everybody worked really hard, it was absolutely a team effort."

The senior trio of Bourazeris, Kelly, and Potts led the UMass attack all day. Bourazeris tallied what proved to be the winning goal in the 13th minute when she redirected Potts' shot on a penalty corner for her third goal of the season, all game-winners. It was third assist of the season for Potts.

Kelly set up UMass' insurance goal with 5:39 left in the game when she dribbled into the left side of the circle, drawing the defense, and sent a pass out to Sikalis, who beat the goalkeeper for the freshman's second goal of the year.

The assist was Kelly's second of the tournament after she set up the overtime winner in Friday's semifinal win over Temple and her team-leading ninth of the season. It was also the team captain's 21st assist of her career, moving her alone into eighth all-time at UMass.

Junior goalkeeper Alesha Widdall led a strong UMass defense that did not allow a goal in the tournament in over 143 minutes of play. She made two stops to record her eighth shutout of the season and 21st of her career.

Stanford, coached by UMass alum Tara Jelley-Danielson, defeated California on Saturday to advance to the NCAA play-in. UMass will host the game on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Garber Field.

Joining Sikalis, Kelly, and Potts on the All-Championship Team were: Lock Haven's Najia Hasan, Amy Hordendorf and Teresa Lezama, Richmond's Chelsea Davies and Dani Pycroft, and Temples Bridget Settles, Becca Keener and Sarah Dalrymple.

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Team Stats

Jaime Bourazeris

Alexa Sikalis

Makaela Potts

Katie Kelly

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics