BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Senior goalkeeper Nicole Downs (Hanover, MA) registered four saves, andfellow senior Katie Balboni (Townsend, MA) notched the game-winning goal, sparking second seeded Bridgewater State College to a 1-0 victory over fifth seeded St. Joseph's in the championship game of the 2007 ECAC Division III New England Field Hockey Tournament.
Downs was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player as she posted her second shutout in as many days while tallying 12 saves in the tournament overall. Downs did not allow a goal in 161 minutes and 42 seconds of play during the tournament.
The Bears finish the season with a record of 16-6, the most wins in program history, and capture their first ever ECAC Championship. The Monks end the 2007 campaign with a 14-7 record.
Both teams missed several opportunities to score in the first half which ended tied at 0-0. Seven minutes into the first period, St. Joseph's had a chance to score the go-ahead goal on a penalty stroke. Freshman defender Alyssa Dunn (Standish, ME) hit a rocket that Downs blocked with her left pad. Bridgewater State's goal, which came at the 56:40 mark, was in-part due to an outstanding individual effort from senior forward Ashley Panzini (Saugus, MA).
Panzini stick-handled the ball from midfield all the way down to the 25-yard line where she was fouled. She then served the free hit into the striking circle where Balboni was waiting. Balboni stick-handled the ball past the goalkeeper and then, while diving, drove the ball into the unguarded net. For Balboni it was her 10th goal of the season as well as her second game-winner in as many days as she also tallied the lone goal in BSC's 1-0 semifinal win over Nichols College.
St Joseph's best opportunity to score in the second half came in the closing seconds of the game when junior forward Gina Gaetani (Auburn, ME) made an attempt at a cross in front of the goal mouth, but it was cleared out of harms way by senior defenseman Laura Chiuppi (Lakeville, MA).
Bridgewater State College finished with an 11-9 advantage in shots while the Monks held a 6-5 edge in penalty corners.
St Joseph's freshman goalkeeper Kathleen Simoes (Wakefield, MA) finished the contest with four stops on the afternoon and sophomore defenseman Kimberly Glynn (Danvers, MA) chipped in with a defensive save in the first half.
Release written by Steven M Miller, Jr --- Sports Information Correspondent