Two streaks in Division II field hockey came to an end November 4 when host Bentley downed East Stroudsburg, 4-2, in the Division II Field Hockey Championship game. It ended a long stretch of champions from the state of Pennsylvania, and it ended a shorter skein of frustration for Bentley, which had been a bridesmaid two years running.

Since the Division II tournament resumed in 1992, the title has been in the possession of Lock Haven or Bloomsburg, two Pennsylvania powerhouses. But Bentley's win made the Massachusetts crowd feel right at home.

"It's so much sweeter to win here at home, in front of the fans who have supported us throughout the years," said Bentley head coach Kelly McGowan.

The Falcons, which had lost the last two title games to Bloomsburg and Lock Haven, jumped ahead early when junior Carolyn Bolster set up Kristyn Bates just 8:46 into the game. The lead was extended to two with 13:02 left in the half when Liz McKenna, who had scored only once all season, deflected a shot by Lauren Galenski into the top of the cage.

"Once you start scoring, it motivates the entire team," said co-captain Alicia Cabrera, one of only two Bentley seniors.

Before East Stroudsburg could score in the second period, Galenski extended Bentley's lead to 3-0 with her 10th goal of the season off a feed from Bates. The Warriors answered just over a minute later when junior Kate Dideon tallied her sixth goal of the season after a centering pass from Michelle Butkus.

Cabrera boosted the lead back to three with 13:49 to play off an assist from McKenna. East Stroudsburg's Sara Gorman closed out the scoring at the 2:54 mark, tallying her second of the tournament when her centering pass caught the corner of the cage.

"Against Lock Haven, we played two halves," East Stroudsburg head coach Sandy Miller said of her team's 1-0 semifinal win over the defending national champions. "Today, we were a little slow, a little tentative in the first half. We didn't take charge right away and played defensive."

Bentley defeated St. Michael's, 1-0, for its third straight trip to the title game. Bentley finished the season with a school-best 22-1 record.

The national championship team placed Bates, Cabrera, Diana DeMain and Allyson Bunce on the all-tournament team. Also honored were Kelly Wagner, Shannon McCracken and Rachel Miller of East Stroudsburg; Angela Potts and Kari Surace of St. Michael's; and Erika Grap and Jen Denault of Lock Haven.

East Stroudsburg 1 0 -- 1

Lock Haven 0 0 -- 0

First half: ES -- Sara Gorman, 10:10.

Shots: East Stroudsburg 11, Lock Haven 16; Goalkeeper saves: East Stroudsburg ( Kelly Wagner) 12 , Lock Haven (Tara Beach) 8. Penalty corners: East Stroudsburg 13, Lock Haven 10.

First half: B -- Alicia Cabrera (Kristyn Bates), 26:02.

Shots: St. Michael's 8, Bentley 6; Goalkeeper saves: St. Michael's (Meghan Scalley) 4, Bentley (Liz Novis) 5. Penalty corners: St. Michael's 10, Bentley 4.

Championship

First half: B -- Kristyn Bates (Carolyn Bolster), 26:11; B -- Liz McKenna (Lauren Galenski), 13:02.

Second half: B -- Galenski (Bates), 28:54; ES -- Kate Dideon (Michelle Butkus, 27:40; B -- Alicia Cabrera (McKenna), 13:49; ES -- Sara Gorman (unassisted), 2:46.

Shots: East Stroudsburg 7, Bentley 12; Goalkeeper saves: East Stroudsburg (Kelly Wagner) 6, Bentley (Liz Novis) 4. Penalty corners: East Stroudsburg 5, Bentley 9.