(Posted November 8, 2008)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Juniata College field hockey squad captured its second consecutive Landmark Conference crown, upsetting number one seed Catholic University of America, 2-1, in double overtime on Saturday in Washington, D.C.

The third-seeded Eagles (9-12) also defeated Catholic in the 2007 Landmark title game, by the same 2-1 score, to win the program's first-ever conference championship.

With a 9-12 overall record, the Eagles are a long shot to receive their fourth NCAA Tournament berth in the last five season. Juniata will find out for sure when the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship selections and pairings are announced on Monday, Nov. 10.

Catholic (12-7) took a 1-0 lead with 24:24 showing in the first half, when Carley Walko scored off an assist by Kendall Petschauer.

Juniata knotted the game just before the end of the opening half, when Paula Price (Camp Hill, Pa./East Pennsboro) scored off a pass from Caitlyn Bowman (Seven Valleys, Pa./Dallastown) with just 1:26 remaining.

The game remained deadlocked through the end of regulation and the first overtime period, with neither team even recording a shot in the first 15-minute overtime frame.

The second OT session also failed to produce a shot until the 5:18 mark, when Price finished a shot past Catholic goalie Marian Cassilly to lift Juniata to the title.

Catholic outshot Juniata by a commanding 11-3 margin, and had 17 penalty corner opportunities to Juniata's five. Eagle goalie Abby Funk (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) recorded seven saves while allowing one goal, while Cassilly finished the day with one save on the three shots on goal she faced.


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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.