Nov. 6, 2010

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- The University of Massachusetts defeated Lock Haven, 2-0, to secure their title as the 2010 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Champion.

The Minutewomen netted their first goal 12:24 into the game when Makaela Potts set up teammate Jaime Bourzeris on a corner. Bouzeris found the back of the net past Haven goalkeeper Erin Terreson to gain momentum for Massachusetts.

Lock Haven held off Massachusetts for the next 52 minutes, until Alexa Sikalis, the Most Outstanding Performer of the tournament, scored off a pass from Katie Kelly from the left side 29:21 into the second half.

Lock Haven responded with a strong attack for the remaining 5:39, testing Massachusetts' goalkeeper Alesha Widdall who responded by making two saves, but the 2-0 margin proved too much for the Haven to overcome.

The Championship title is the 12th overall for Massachusetts, more than all other A-10 field hockey programs combined, and third in the four years that Sowry has been as head coach of the Minutewomen.

"The persistence [the team] showed this weekend was incredible," Sowry said. "Everybody worked really hard, it was absolutely a team effort."

After the Championship game, the Atlantic 10 Conference office announced the All-Tournament team honorees. Headlining the list was Massachusetts Alexa Sikalis as the most outstanding performer of the tournament. Joing Sikalis are teammates Katie Kelly and Makaela Potts, Lock Haven's Najia Hasan, Amy Hordendorf and Teresa Lezama, Richmond's Chelsea Davies and Dani Pycroft, and Temples Bridget Settles, Becca Keener and Sarah Dalrymple.

Massachusetts will host Stanford, the winner of the NorPac Field Hockey Championship, on Tuesday at 1pm in an NCAA play in game at Garber Field.