Geneva, NY - The Montclair State field hockey's magical 2012 season came up two goals short of a national championship as the Red Hawks fell to Tufts University 2-1 in the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship at William Smith College's McCooey Field on Sunday.
Montclair's finest season in program history closed out with a runner-up finish as MSU completed the year at 22-2 which included its first NJAC Championship, a school record for victories and first NCAA national finals appearance. The Red Hawks were seeking to become the first women's program to win an NCAA Championship and join the 1997 softball team as runner-up finishers.
The Red Hawks opened the scoring, earning a penalty corner in the 11th minute. Junior Sierra Rauchbach (East Brunswick, NJ, East Brunswick) set a cross from the left side of the cage to senior Frances Schaefer (Egg Harbor City, NJ, Holy Spirit) on the right side. Her first offering was turned back by Tufts goalie Brianna Keenan, but Schaefer collected her own rebound and sticked home her 18th goal of the year.
In the 16th minute, the Jumbos (19-2) pulled even on a penalty corner of their own. The insertion went to the top of the circle where Dakota Sikes-Keilp unleashed a blast that senior Megan Bosland (Boonton, NJ, Boonton) kicked to her right. The ricochet landed on the stick of Hannah Park, who fired it home for her fourth goal of the season.
Tufts took the lead with 6:34 left in the opening half. First-year Alexandra Jamison rifled a pass from outside the circle into the middle, where Park redirected it for her second goal of the afternoon.
The Red Hawks had a chance to pull even just before halftime. On a scramble in front of the Jumbo goal, Keenan saved a screaming shot from her left. The rebound was stopped by Rachel Gerhardt's defensive save, but the third MSU was kept out of the goal by a body ball, resulting in a penalty stroke. With 4:24 left in the half, junior Stephanie Lewis (Garwood, NJ, Arthur L. Johnson) missed the shot wide left.
In the second half, Montclair State earned several quality scoring opportunities early, earning four corners in the first 11 minutes. The Red Hawks briefly celebrated what they thought was a game-tying goal off a corner, but one of the MSU players entered the circle to early and the goal was waived off.
Over the final 24 minutes, the Jumbos played superb defense, limiting the Red Hawks to just a single shot. Keenan earned the win with five saves. Bosland made four stops at the other end of the field.
Like the final score, shots and penalty corners were nearly even. MSU had a 12-11 edge in shots, while Tufts enjoyed an 8-7 advantage in corners.
Abby Erler (New Hampton, NH, Newfound Regional), Lewis and Bosland were named to the All-Tournament Team.
