Davidson College
No. 4W Pacific
Rua Lifts Davidson Over Pacific In First Round of NorPac Championships
11/4/2010 6:54:22 PM | Field Hockey
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Sophomore Finley Amato assisted on both of Davidson's goals to break the school single-season scoring record and Christine Rua deflected the game-winner in during the 45th minute as the Wildcats defeated Pacific, 2-1 in the first round of the 2010 NorPac Field Hockey Conference Tournament Thursday afternoon at Belk Turf Field. Davidson will play either California or Radford Friday at 4 p.m.
Davidson (14-6), playing as the East Division's top seed earned it's first first-round win in the tournament since 2007, relegating the fourth-seed from the West Division, Pacific (2-15), to the consolation round.
All of the game's scoring took place within in a 10-minute span early in the second half. After outshooting Pacific, 12-2 in the first half, the 'Cats finally broke through in the in the second minute of the second half off a penalty corner. Amato slipped a pass left to junior Hannah English (Louisville, Ky.), who blasted it in from the top of the circle.
The 1-0 lead was short-lived though as Pacific answered just over two minutes later. Emily Tregoning passed forward to Megan Pederson, who directed it inside the left post to even the score at 1-1.
The 'Cats kept up the pressure though, taking advantage of another corner opportunity. Amato shot from the top of the circle and Rua redirected it past Pacific goalkeeper Ashlee Schlesier for the 2-1 win.
Schleiser was strong in the cage, making 15 saves, as Davidson outshot Pacific 27-8 for the game. Emily Trudeau also recorded a defensive save.
Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Fisher (Fredericksburg, Va.) made three saves and was helped by junior Hannah Lawrence (Shaker Heights, Ohio), who tallied a defensive save.
Amato broke the Davidson single-season point-scoring record of 36 points set by Cathy Inabet in 1980 and matched by Lea Jaeger in 2000.
Tournament Schedule (All times EST)
Thursday, Nov. 4
Game 1: No. 2E Longwood defeats No. 3W UC Davis, 6-2
Game 2: No. 1W Stanford defeats No. 4E App. State, 10-3
Game 3: No. 1E Davidson defeats No.4W Pacific, 2-1
Game 4: No. 2W California vs. No. 3E Radford, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 5
Game 5: No. 3W UC Davis vs. No. 4E App State (consolation), 11 a.m.
Game 6: No. 2E Longwood vs. No. 1W Stanford (semifinals), 1:30 p.m.
Game 7: No. 1E Davidson vs. Gm. 4 winner (semifinals), 4 p.m.
Game 8: No. 4W Pacific vs. Gm. 4 loser (consolation), 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6
Game 9: Gm. 6 loser vs. Gm. 7 loser (Third Place), 11 a.m.
Game 10: Gm. 6 winner vs. Gm. 7 winner (Championship), 1:30 p.m.
