November 1, 2008
Barlow's Last-Minute Goal Puts WC in Playoffs
Senior Scores Game-Winner in 2-1 Victory Over Dickinson

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- Senior attack Jaimie Barlow (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll) scored the game-winning goal with 24.4 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Washington College field hockey team a 3-2 Centennial Conference win over visiting Dickinson College in the regular season finale for both teams this afternoon on Kibler Field at Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium. The Shorewomen (11-5, 6-4 Centennial) clinched their first Centennial Conference playoff bid in four years with the win. Washington then wrapped up the four seed and Dickinson (9-8, 5-5) clinched the final berth in the five-team conference playoff field less than a half hour later when McDaniel beat Haverford, 3-2, in overtime.

Washington got on the board with 20:09 remaining in the first half when sophomore attack Danielle Rosato (Narvon, PA/Pequea Valley) scored on a ball sent in front of the cage by junior attack Kristin Bircsak (East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown). Bircsak then redirected in a ball sent by senior midfielder Amy Spadanuta (Hackettstown, NJ/Warren Hills) with 18:32 left in the period. The Shorewomen held a 13-11 advantage in shots in the opening half.

Katie Mersky cut the lead to one goal when she dribbled to the cage and scored with 26:50 left in the the second half. Lizzie Boorse then had a shot knocked away by Washington senior defender Cora Jo Spare (North East, MD/North east) for a defensive save with 22:56 to go. Kaity Moore had a shot with 18;18 left for Dickinson but another Washington defensive save, this one by freshman defender Brittany Palasik (Severna Park, MD/Archbishop Spalding), turned it away. The Red Devils finally managed to tie the score at 2-2 with 13:15 remaining when Amanda Zavada dribbled around WC junior goalkeeper Elena Nicholoff (Tunkhannock, PA/Lackawanna Trail) and scored. Barlow's game winner came on a loose ball off a rebound with 24.4 on the clock.

Dickinson outshot Washington, 26-19, in the game and held a 14-11 edge in penalty corners. Nicholoff made 18 saves for the victors, while Amanda West made 10 stops for Dickinson.

The Shorewomen and Red Devils will play again in the Centennial Conference Tournament first round game Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. on Kibler Field at Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium. The winner will advance to next Saturday's semifinals, which will be hosted by the winner of today's 5:00 p.m. game between Ursinus and Johns Hopkins.

BOX SCORE