FARMINGTON – A goal by Gina Gaetani (Auburn, ME) four minutes into the game stood up as third-seeded St. Joseph’s College knocked off No. 2 University of Maine at Farmington 1-0 in North Atlantic Conference field hockey semifinal action today at Prescott Field.
The Monks (14-4) advanced to take on top-seeded Castleton State College (13-7) in the NAC title game next Saturday. The Beavers (8-8) will miss the NAC final for the first time since the conference began in 2003.
Gaetani’s score came off an intercepted clear of a cross at 4:09. The senior captain watched the pass onto her stick and popped it in the goal for the game-winner It was the lone shot of the first half for either team.
The Beavers upped their intensity in the second half, including a span of eight corners over five minutes of play, but to no avail. Despite a 12-5 advantage in corners – all 12 in the second frame, Farmington managed only four shots in the contest.
Meaghan Johnson collected two saves in registering the shutout victory.
Kaeleigh Barker (Chichester, NH) stopped five shots in the loss, including a sprawling dive to snub Julia Ostrowski (Albany, NY) in the second half to keep the game within one score.
