The NCAA News - News and Features

November 24, 1997

Goalie boosts William Smith to its second championship

Senior goalkeeper Bianca Dupuis of William Smith notched her school-record 42nd shutout in leading the Herons to a 3-0 win over Cortland State and the Division III Field Hockey Championship title November 16 at Lebanon Valley.

"She is the anchor of our team," said William Smith coach Sally Scatton, whose team claimed its second championship.

William Smith defeated College of New Jersey, 1-0, in the 1992 title game.

"I enjoyed it more this time because (that) game was a 1-0 contest.... It was a bit more nerve-wracking," Scatton said.

The Herons got all the scoring they would need with 16:50 left in the first half when freshman Shannon Eggleston twisted in a shot from the right side of the circle after a penalty corner.

William Smith got another first-half goal from a penalty corner when senior Susan Thibodeau set up junior Amy Woodland, who rifled a shot into the cage from 16 yards away with 5:43 left.

A second-half penalty stroke from sophomore Ami Ford with 20:48 left completed the scoring and gave the Herons a dominating victory in a season that was anything but one-sided.

"There was so much parity that, of the 16 teams in the tournament, eight of those could have won it all if they got their game going," Scatton said.

The Herons, who finished the season with a 20-2 record, had a tougher time in the semifinals. Host Lebanon Valley took William Smith into two overtimes and penalty strokes before succumbing, 2-1.

The overtime win was the Herons' seventh in eight such games this season.

Cortland State, which finished 16-7, advanced to the championship game with a 1-0 win over Messiah. Both semifinal games, which were scheduled for November 14, were postponed a day because of snow and rain.

Joining Dupuis on the all-tournament team were teammates Ford, Woodland and Thibodeau. Cortland State was represented by Shawn Proctor, Kristin DiMarzo and Stephanie Acompora. Other members included Lindsay Nelson and Erica Abrams of Messiah and Rebecca Elliott and Erin Schmid of Lebanon Valley.

SEMIFINALS

William Smith -- 0 -- 1 -- 0 -- 0 -- (3) -- 2

Lebanon Valley -- 1 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- (1) -- 1

First half: LV -- Alicia Fioravanti (unassisted), 26:06.

Second half: WS -- Susan Thibodeau (unassisted), 29:30.

Tiebreaker: William Smith wins, 2-1, on penalty strokes.

Shots: William Smith 13, Lebanon Valley 9. Goalkeeper saves: William Smith (Bianca Dupuis) 6, Lebanon Valley (Joanna Bates) 9. Penalty corners: William Smith 10, Lebanon Valley 7.

Messiah -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Cortland St. -- 0 -- 1 -- 1

Second half: CS -- Courtnie Smith (unassisted), 25:47.

Shots: Messiah 7, Cortland St. 25. Goalkeeper saves: Messiah (Kristi Schoffstall) 13, Cortland St. (Catherine Bodisco Massink) 4. Penalty corners: Messiah 5, Cortland St. 17.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Cortland St. -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

William Smith -- 2 -- 1 -- 3

First half: WS -- Shannon Eggleston (unassisted), 16:50; WS -- Amy Woodland (Susan Thibodeau), 5:43.

Second half: WS -- Ami Ford (penalty stroke), 20:48.

Shots: Cortland St. 5, William Smith 17. Goalkeeper saves: Cortland St. (Catherine Bodisco Massink) 9, William Smith (Bianca Dupuis) 4. Penalty corners: Cortland St. 15, William Smith 12.