EMU, LC Meet in Final for Second Straight Year

SALEM, Va. --- The ODAC Field Hockey Tournament championship game will have a familiar feel to it on Saturday, albeit at a new location.  Top-seeded Eastern Mennonite University and #2 Lynchburg College both advanced on Wednesday evening, setting up a rematch of last season's conference championship. 

The Hornets won last season's contest, 3-2, in overtime on their home field.  The Royals will be hoping for the same home field advantage on Saturday as the game will be played in Harrisonburg at 1:00 p.m.

Eastern Mennonite wrote its ticket into the final by defeating Sweet Briar, 9-1, during the quarterfinals, and then making its way past Randolph-Macon College, 2-1, in the semifinals.  Alyssa Derstine game the Royals a 1-0 lead at the 6:12 mark of the first half.  Lauren Michel made it 2-0 with about six minutes to play.  R-MC's Monica Jenkins converted a penalty corner with 67:06 showing on the clock to cut the lead in half.  EMU was able to ride out the last 2-plus minutes to earn the win.

Lynchburg topped Virginia Wesleyan, 7-0, in its quarterfinal contest.  The Hornets hosted a tough Washington & Lee University squad in the semifinals, but the Hornets came out on top 1-0.  After scoreless first half, Lynchburg's Allie Weir broke the dead-lock with just over 10 minutes to play in the contest, depositing a pass from Samantha Howard past W&L keeper Tara Rubenstein to notch the game-winning tally.

For more information on the ODAC Field Hockey Tournament, visit the ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconline.com or go directly to the ODAC Championship Central website by clicking HERE.