The Huskies blanked Boston University, 2-0, in the America East Championship final to win their fourth-straight conference crown on Sunday at Jack Barry Field in Cambridge. Mari Creatini and Liane Dixon scored NU's goals. Goalie Diana Nelson made five saves, all in the first period, for the Huskies' eighth shutout of the season.
Creatini was named the America East Championship's Most Outstanding Player and she, Dixon, Nelson and Lauren Edelmeier were named to the All-Tournament team. It was NU's 10th America East title in 14 years. NU is now 24-4 all-time in the America East Tournament.
"We've won four in a row but this was the toughest one," said Husky head coach Cheryl Murtagh. "It's gotten tougher every year. I think people thought we couldn't do it but these kids came out and proved them wrong."
About the game, Murtagh said, "I was very excited. Our team came out and played today. I felt that we were a good team. Today we came out and played hard and played a good game. We had good passing, good defense. I'm excited about it."
Creatini scored the game-winner 23:13 into the first half. Ashley Webber got a shot off from the left side and BU goalie Erin Prediger deflected it back to Webber. Webber then passed it to a wide open Creatini, who netted the goal on the right side.
Dixon added the insurance goal in the second half at 60:18. She took the ball into the circle herself and went up the middle for the score. That made it 2-0 and the Huskies protected their lead from then on.
Northeastern had some great scoring opportunities in the first half. At 19:00, Dixon got a shot off from the right side and beat Prediger but the ball hit the left post. Jay Quinn got the rebound and shot it but Prediger made the save. Two minutes later, Whitney Shean nearly had a breakaway but she was caught from behind by BU defender Ashley Parker.
The Huskies outshot BU 30-7 in the game, including a 16-1 margin in the second half. The Huskies had 16 penalty corners and held BU to just two.
The Huskies earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The site and opponent has yet to be determined.
No. 2 Northeastern (17-3) vs. Goals by period 1 2 Tot
No. 1 Boston Univ. (13-7) -------------------------------
Date: Nov 07, 2004 Attendance: 300 No. 2 Northeastern.. 1 1 - 2
Weather: sunny, 60 degrees No. 1 Boston Univ... 0 0 - 0
No. 2 Northeastern No. 1 Boston Univ.
Pos # Player Sh G A DS Pos # Player Sh G A DS
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
GK 77 Diana Nelson........ - - - - GK 84 PREDIGER, Erin...... - - - -
4 Liane Dixon......... 6 1 - - 1 HUDAK, Sarah........ - - - -
5 Ashley Webber....... 1 - 1 - 2 SHUTE, Sarah........ 2 - - -
9 Mari Creatini....... 9 1 - - 3 CASSARA, Caitlyn.... - - - -
10 Sarah Eckhoff....... 1 - - - 4 SPEUHLER, Pam....... - - - -
14 Natalie Singelais... 1 - - - 7 McCLAY, Colleen..... - - - -
19 Jay Quinn........... 5 - - - 9 ROSSI, Kara......... 1 - - -
20 Alli Bolster........ - - - - 11 CALAMARI, Erin...... - - - -
22 Lauren Edelmeier.... 5 - - - 12 VENDETTI, Lauren.... 1 - - -
24 Whitney Shean....... 1 - - - 21 JOYCE, Jen.......... 2 - - -
27 Megan Troxel........ - - - - 22 PARKER, Ashley...... 1 - - -
---------- Substitutes ---------- ---------- Substitutes ----------
11 Michaela O'Malley... 1 - - - 5 ADAMS, Hadley....... - - - -
17 Ashley D'Ambra...... - - - - 13 HAMADA, Hayley...... - - - -
Totals.............. 30 2 1 0 16 SCIBILIA, Adrienne.. - - - -
17 SEAMAN, Amy......... - - - -
33 DEAN, Laura......... - - - -
Totals.............. 7 0 0 0
No. 2 Northeastern No. 1 Boston Univ.
# Player MIN GA Saves # Player MIN GA Saves
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
77 Diana Nelson........ 70:00 0 5 84 PREDIGER, Erin...... 70:00 2 15
Shots by period 1 2 Tot Saves by period 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
No. 2 Northeastern.. 14 16 - 30 No. 2 Northeastern.. 5 0 - 5
No. 1 Boston Univ... 6 1 - 7 No. 1 Boston Univ... 7 8 - 15
Penalty corners 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
No. 2 Northeastern.. 6 10 - 16
No. 1 Boston Univ... 1 1 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 11:47 NU Mari Creatini Ashley Webber
2. 9:42 NU Liane Dixon Unassisted
PLAYER CARDS:
GC-BU #9 (8:11)
