Bentley pushed defending national champion Bloomsburg to overtime but fell short as the Huskies claimed their third straight NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship November 14 at Massachusetts-Lowell's Cushing Field.

Bloomsburg's Kelly Trevisan scored the game-winning goal seven minutes and 51 seconds into the extra period, giving the Huskies a 3-2 win and their 12th overall national crown. This was the third time the teams had faced each other in the championship game. Bloomsburg won the previous matchups -- 2-0 in 1999 and 5-0 in 2002.

The Huskies took charge early. Freshman Brittney Fox converted a feed from senior Sharla Partlon to open the scoring in the contest's 11th minute. Partlon added a goal off a penalty corner in the 17th minute to make it a 2-0 game.

Bentley, the 2001 national champion, battled back late in the first period. With three minutes left in the half, the Falcons pulled to within a goal after senior Jenn Walker rifled a backhand shot past Bloomsburg goalie Tracey Hudak on an assist from Mary Rogers to collect her eighth goal of the season.

Walker evened the score for Bentley in the 52nd minute of play on an unassisted goal that sent the game into overtime.

Bentley netminder Kristin Johnson turned away one attempt in the extra period by Bloomsburg's Fox for her seventh save of the game. But Johnson couldn't stop Trevisan's deflection that came less than two minutes later off a shot from sophomore Kristy Kropa to give Bloomsburg the win. Huskies goalkeeper Hudak had six saves in the game. Bentley outshot Bloomsburg, 16-11.

"I am thrilled we were able to get this national title," said Bloomsburg head coach Jan Hutchinson. "We were tight in the beginning, but loosened up when we took the 2-0 lead. After they tied the game, I thought we got defensive again. However, in the overtime period, we controlled the action and were able to get the game-winning shot."

The Huskies, who downed Indiana (Pennsylvania), 3-1, in the semifinals, finished the season with a 21-3 mark.

"It was an awesome season, both on and off the field," said Kelly McGowan, head coach at Bentley. "When we didn't make the tournament last year, they set their sights on it and worked hard every day since last year ended."

The Falcons, who defeated Southern Connecticut State, 7-2, in the first round and clipped Massachusetts-Lowell, 3-0, in the semifinals, set a school and NCAA Division II record for wins in a season with 22 against just three losses.

First round

Indiana (Pa.) 2, Shippensburg 0; Bentley 7, Southern Conn. St. 2.

Semifinals

First half: B -- Ashley Heckard (Kristy Kropa), 6:09; B -- Jackie Loehwing (unassisted), 27:02; B -- Brittney Fox (Maribeth Brozena), 32:21.

Second half: I -- Suzanne Cornelissen (unassisted), 66:50.

Shots: Indiana (Pa.) 8, Bloomsburg 12. Goalkeeper saves: Indiana (Pa.) (Jamie Parell) 2; Bloomsburg (Tracey Hudak) 5. Penalty corners: Indiana (Pa.) 12, Bloomsburg 12.

First half: B -- Heather Buda (unassisted), 12:28; B -- Jenn Walker (unassisted), 26:11.

Second half: B -- Amanda Deppe (Mary Rogers), 52:15.

Shots: Mass.-Lowell 1, Bentley 14. Goalkeeper saves: Mass.-Lowell (Nicole Staiti) 7, Bentley (Kristin Johnson) 0. Penalty corners: Mass.-Lowell 6, Bentley 10.

Championship game

First half: Bl -- Brittney Fox (Sharla Partlon), 11:00; Bl -- Partlon (penalty corner), 16:11; Be -- Jenn Walker (Mary Rogers), 32:00.

Second half: Be -- Walker (unassisted), 51:41.

Overtime: Bl -- Kelly Trevisan (Kristy Kropa), 77:51.

Shots: Bentley 16, Bloomsburg 11. Goalkeeper saves: Bentley (Kristin Johnson) 7; Bloomsburg (Tracey Hudak) 6. Penalty corners: Bentley 13, Bloomsburg 10.