Congratulations 2024 College Division II Conference Winners
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With post-season conference tournaments taking place this past weekend, USA Field Hockey is highlighting each conference champion in Division II.
Photo by Julia Jacobsen
Northeast-10 Conference: Assumption
After just missing out on the Northeast 10 (NE10) title last season with a 2-1 loss to Saint Anselm, Assumption flipped the script with a 3-0 victory to secure their second NE10 championship.
The Greyhounds continued their dominant season that included going 13-0 in NE10 play with a 5-0 win over Franklin Pierce in the quarterfinals. Assumption outshot their opponent 24-0, and saw goals from Assumption's all-time leader in points, Mia Salah; Elle Murray, Chloe Kaeller, and Julia Carbone. Their semifinal against Bentley would be a much closer test. Murray got the scoring started for the Greyhounds in the second quarter, but Bentley answered back with an equalizer just four minutes later. A tense third quarter saw Assumption take back the lead when Carbone scored off a penalty corner, but the Falcons were reluctant to give up and scored the tying goal at minute 57 to send the match to overtime. Getting her second of the night, Carbone put away the game-winner just four minutes in.
After their nail-biting overtime win just days before, the NE10 final ended with a 3-0 shutout in favor of the Greyhounds. Murray notched the first and third while Salah picked up the second, and Paige Gillette made five saves in goal for her 11th shutout of the year. Callie Beauparlant was named the 2024 NE10 Most Outstanding Player and rounded out an All-Tournament team that included teammates Murray and Salah.
Assumption will enter the NCAA Tournament with a 18-3 record and five wins over top-ten teams.
Andrew Miller, SU Sports Info
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference: Shippensburg
After a few years off from winning the PSAC Championship in 2021 (in addition to the NCAA crown), Shippensburg is back with a vengeance. The No.1 nationally ranked Raiders took down No. 2 East Stroudsburg in overtime on Sunday to claim their third PSAC title.
The win was just the icing on the cake for now 18-1 Shippensburg, having lost just once this season to IUP and going 10-0 against ranked opponents. The Raiders made it to the final after narrowly defeating No. 4 Bloomsburg in a 2-1 OT thriller. After going down 1-0 in the third quarter, Shippensburg was 54 seconds away from a loss, but Valu Paulsent a one-time shot to extend the game into overtime. Alexa Michielsen would put home the golden goal for the Raiders off of a penalty corner.
The PSAC Championship match between Shippensburg and ESU featured more thrilling play. It was a defensive battle, finishing a full 60 minutes without a single goal. The difference would be Michielsen yet again, who took a pass from Agus Garibaldiand fired the game-winning shot into the goal. Michielsen was named the PSAC Tournament MVP for her performance.
South Atlantic Conference: Limestone
After no goals from either team after 80 minutes of field hockey, Limestone defeated Mount Olive in shootouts to claim the 2024 South Atlantic Conference title.
The Saints took on the Trojans in what ended up being an even tighter win than their double overtime victory in the regular season. Junior Tereza Koprivova made saves in goal, then continued on to make crucial shootout saves. Victoria Gonzalez Lopezand Felicitas Herrero Martel each made their shootout attempts to help lead Limestone to their SAC crown.
The Saints made it to the conference final after defeating Wingate, 1-0, in the SAC semifinals. Floor Peerbooms scored the first and only goal of the game, early in just the ninth minute. Limestone’s defense would hold strong for the remainder of the match.
Koprivova, Zoe Bergmann, Kattie Dettore, and Karolina Bystricka were named to the SAC All-Tournament Team, with Koprivova being honored as the MVP. The Saints are no 14-5 on the season.
Images courtesy of Julia Jacobsen/Assumption Athletics, Andrew Miller/SU Sports Info, SAC Sports
