CLINTON, N.Y. -- Kaillie Briscoe '09 tied a career high with six goals to help lead nationally ranked No. 6 Hamilton College to a 10-5 win against No. 12 Union College in the Liberty League tournament championship game played at Hamilton's Campus Road Athletic Field on May 5.

Hamilton (15-2 overall) captured its first league tournament crown. The Continentals -- winners of 15 straight -- earned their first NCAA championships tournament berth since 2001 and third overall. Hamilton has appeared in all five league tournaments. The Continentals lost 8-6 against Union in the 2006 title game. The Dutchwomen (10-5) have played in the league finals four consecutive years and are 2-2 in those contests.

Briscoe also scored six goals in a league tournament semifinal win against William Smith College on May 5, 2006. She finished the tournament with nine goals and seven assists. Briscoe leads Hamilton with a program-record 82 points this year.

Liberty League Player of the Year Nicole Tetreault '08 added three goals and Suzy Belmont '07 scored one for the Continentals. Kalley Greer '07 made nine saves. Tara Eckberg '08 led the defense with four ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Allie Toney '07 paced the Union offense with two goals. Caitlin Cuozzo '08 and Keri Messa '08 were credited with two assists apiece. Stephanie Cronan '07 chipped in one goal, four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Allie Cuozzo '10 won five draw controls, picked up three ground balls and caused three turnovers. Caitlin Milbury '07 led the defense with four ground balls and four caused turnovers.

Hamilton led 5-2 late in the first half as Briscoe scored four of the Continentals' first five goals. The Dutchwomen bridged the first and second halves with three straight goals to tie the score at 5-all. Toney and Messa hooked up on two goals in the opening 6:39 of the second half to bring Union even again.

Tetreault put Hamilton in the lead for good on a free-position goal with 19:31 left in the game. She added her 57th goal this year on another free-position opportunity to make the score 7-5 with 13:47 remaining. Briscoe scored with 8:59 left while the Continentals were playing with an extra attacker after the Dutchwomen were whistled for their fourth yellow card. Briscoe then clinched the victory on her third free-position goal with 2:49 remaining.

Hamilton will find out who it's playing in the NCAA tournament and where either on Sunday night (May 6) or Monday morning.

Score by Period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Union...............  3  2 -  5
Hamilton College....  5  5 - 10

Union SCORING:
GOALS: Allie Toney 2; Stephanie Cronan 1; Steph Egizi 1; Kellin Skurek 1.
ASSISTS: Caitlin Cuozzo 2; Keri Messa 2.

Hamilton College SCORING:
GOALS: Kaillie Briscoe 6; Nicole Tetreault 3; Suzy Belmont 1.
ASSISTS: Liz Longley 1; Kate Marek 1.

Union GROUND BALLS: Stephanie Cronan 4; Caitlin Milbury 4; Allie Cuozzo 3; Keri Messa 2; Emily Bryson 1; Steph Burlton 1; Caitlin Cuozzo 1; Angelique Kelley 1.

Hamilton College GROUND BALLS: Tara Eckberg 4; Kalley Greer 2; Liz Longley 2; Jen McGowan 2; Nicole Tetreault 2; Liz Benjamin 1; Kaillie Briscoe 1; Catie Gibbons 1; Kate Marek 1; Audrey Nebergall 1; Liz Rave 1; Inga Stots 1; Katie White 1.

Union TURNOVERS CAUSED: Caitlin Milbury 4; Stephanie Cronan 3; Allie Cuozzo 3; Keri Messa 1.
Hamilton College TURNOVERS CAUSED: Tara Eckberg 2; Catie Gibbons 2; Jen McGowan 2; Nicole Tetreault 2; Katie White 2; Kate Marek 1; Allie Shpall 1.

SHOTS - UNION 17; HAM 23.

PENALTIES - UNION 5/15:00; HAM 1/3:00.
MAN-UP OPPORTUNITIES - UNION 0-0; HAM 1-2.

TURNOVERS - UNION 20; HAM 18.

GOALIES
UNION: Steph Burlton 9-4 (60:00 minutes, 19 shots-9 saves; 10 GA).
HAM: Kalley Greer 15-2 (60:00, 14-9, 5).

2007-05-05