Connecticut and Liberty Set for a Rematch in #BIGEASTfh Championship Final
NEW YORK – The 2017 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship presented by Jeep opened on Friday in Providence, R.I., with Semifinal matches. The nation’s top team and tournament’s No. 1 seed Connecticut topped No. 4 seed and host Providence 3-0 on the Lennon Family Field, with BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Charlotte Veitner picking up a goal in the contest. Three hours later, No. 2 seed Liberty used a four-point night by sophomore Agueda Moroni to defeat third-seeded Old Dominion, 3-1. The Huskies and Lady Flames will meet on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. (ET) in Providence in the BIG EAST title game. The game will stream live on BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN), with the winner earning the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Championship.
No. 1 Seed Connecticut 3, No. 4 Seed Providence 0
The top-ranked Huskies will seek their sixth-consecutive BIG EAST Championship crown on Sunday, after defeating Providence, 3-0, in the semifinals. It took only seven minutes for the nation’s top team to score thanks to senior Charlotte Veitner. The BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year notched her nation-leading 28th tally of the season with a shot into the back right corner of the cage. Freshman Jessica Dembrowski picked up the assist after connecting with Veitner who sent one home from the stroke line. Overall, three different Huskies scored in the tilt. At 62:08, it was junior Amelia Iacobucci who added to the lead. Iacobucci posted her third tally of the season, while classmate Amanda Collins recorded the helper.
Connecticut’s 24th BIG EAST title game appearance also marks its 16th in a row. The Huskies will look to pick up their sixth-consecutive and 17th overall championship. In a rematch of last season’s title game, UConn pulled out a 3-2 victory, to earn the automatic berth into the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
No. 2 Seed Liberty 3, No. 3 Seed Old Dominion 1
Second-seeded Liberty returns to the BIG EAST title game for the second straight season, with a 3-1 win over third-seeded Old Dominion. Sophomore Agueda Moroni tallied a goal and assist on the night, tallying the game’s first goal in the fifth minute. At 25:54, in the opening half, Moroni connected with Moniek van Aarle, to extend the lead to 2-0 heading into the break in what would be the game-winning goal. As the rain poured down in the second half, Victoria O’Keefe sealed the game with her fourth goal of the season in the 47th minute. The Monarch’s attempted a late comeback in the closing five minutes of the game, as Erin Huffman closed out her sophomore season with her team-leading 12th goal. ODU finished with a 10-9 advantage in shots, while the Flames held a 5-3 lead in penalty corners.
In its second season as an affiliate member of the BIG EAST, Liberty returns to the BIG EAST Championship title game for the second consecutive season. Falling to the Huskies, 3-2, the Lady Flames will look to avenge last year’s defeat to pick up an automatic bid into the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Earlier in the year, Liberty and Connecticut met in Lynchburg, Va. (10/14), with UConn pulling out a 3-0 road victory.
2017 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship
Presented By Jeep
Semifinals - Nov. 3 - BEDN
No. 1 seed (#1) Connecticut 3, No. 4 Providence 0
No. 2 seed Liberty 3, No. 3 Old Dominion 1
Final - Nov. 5 - BEDN
No. 1 seed (#1) Connecticut vs. No. 2 seed Liberty, 1 p.m.
All times Eastern
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HERE.