Massachusetts-Lowell needed two halves of regulation play, two sudden-victory overtime periods and more than 90 minutes overall to capture its first NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship.

The River Hawks downed the Huskies of Bloomsburg, 2-1, November 13 at Shippensburg.

The victory by Massachusetts-Lowell stopped Bloomsburg's bid for a fourth straight national title and provided the River Hawks' best showing in four tournament appearances. Massachusetts-Lowell suffered a 4-1 loss to Bloomsburg in the 2003 championship game.

Massachusetts-Lowell opened the scoring when Sara Hohenberger took a pass from senior Courtney Hill and buried her team-leading 24th goal on the season at the 8:08 mark. It would be the only tally by either team in the first half despite heavy offensive pressure by Bloomsburg that generated six shots on goal and eight penalty corners.

The Huskies continued their offensive onslaught in the second half and finally broke through with just over six minutes left in the game. Maribeth Brozena accepted a pass from Ashley Heckard and rifled a shot past River Hawk netminder Nicole Staiti to knot the contest at 1-1. It was Brozena's ninth goal of the season.

Both sudden-victory overtime periods included offensive opportunities for each team. Outstanding net play by Bloomsburg's Tracey Hudak, who blocked three shots in the first overtime, and Massachusetts-Lowell's Staiti, who turned away tries in both, kept the game tight until the 92nd minute of play. After a furious push by the Huskies, River Hawk senior Joanna DaLuze emerged with the ball, maneuvered down the field and registered the game-winning goal.

"It's just unbelievable. You think back to August and before the season, and something like this is never in your wildest dreams," said Massachusetts-Lowell head coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "The senior leadership provided by this team was the biggest difference for us today."

The River Hawks earned the win even though they were outshot by Bloomsburg, 26-11. The Huskies also claimed the edge on penalty corners, 20-12. The 32 penalty corners taken during the game broke an NCAA Division II record previously held by Bloomsburg and Lock Haven, which combined for 26 corners during a November 7, 1993, matchup.

Massachusetts-Lowell edged Stonehill, 2-1, in semifinal action to earn an appearance in the championship contest. The River Hawks finished with a 20-3 mark for the year. Bloomsburg handed Shippensburg its first shutout of the season when the Huskies claimed a 1-0 victory in the other semifinal game. The Huskies ended the season with a 19-5 record.

Joining Massachusetts-Lowell's Hill, DaLuze and Hohenberger on the all-tournament team were Brozena, Hudak, Jamie Vanartsdalen and Kristi Ney of Bloomsburg, Kelly Latendresse and Julie Michalos from Stonehill, and Shippensburg's Ashley Watt and Natalie Grazan.

First round

Stonehill 1, Bentley 0; Bloomsburg 2, Indiana (Pa.) 1.

Semifinals

Second half: B -- Jamie Vanartsdalen (unassisted), 53:05.

Shots: Shippensburg 13, Bloomsburg 5. Goalkeeper saves: Shippensburg (Nora Luchansky) 2, Bloomsburg (Tracey Hudak) 6. Penalty corners: Shippensburg 11, Bloomsburg 3.

First half: ML -- Sara Hohenberger (Michelle Harrington), 28:08; ML -- Courtney Hill (Hohenberger), 31:54.

Second half: S -- Courtney Campbell (Kelly Latendresse), 52:12.

Shots: Stonehill 8, Mass.-Lowell 5. Goalkeeper saves: Stonehill (Dani Ryder) 1, Mass.-Lowell (Nicole Staiti) 7. Penalty corners: Stonehill 12, Mass.-Lowell 7.

Championship game

First half: ML -- Sara Hohenberger (Courtney Hill), 8:08.

Second half: B -- Maribeth Brozena (Ashley Heckard), 63:18.

Second overtime: ML -- Julie DaLuze (unassisted), 92:01.

Shots: Bloomsburg 26, Mass.-Lowell 11. Goalkeeper saves: Bloomsburg (Tracey Hudak) 5, Mass.-Lowell (Nicole Staiti) 14. Penalty corners: Bloomsburg 20, Mass.-Lowell 12.