ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY
Wednesday, October 24, 2001

Etown Stuns Lebanon Valley with 2-0 Win in Commonwealth Conference Semifinals, Blue Jays Advance to Conference Championship Saturday

ANNVILLE, Pa. --- Elizabethtown picked the perfect time to end its ten game losing streak against Lebanon Valley and beat the nation's 16th-ranked Flying Dutchmen for the first time since 1991: the semifinal round of the Commonwealth Conference playoffs Wednesday at Lebanon Valley. The Blue Jays took home a 2-0 victory to improve to 11-8 overall and advance to the conference championship game against Messiah in Grantham Saturday.

Elizabethtown got on the board late in the first half when Brandy Espenshade (Grantville, PA/Lower Dauphin) scored unassisted with 6:20 remaining in the period. Lauren Potosky (Wrightsville, PA/Eastern York) padded the Blue Jays' lead with an unassisted goal with 17:09 left in the second stanza.

Etown goaltender Kate VanValkenburgh (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) made seven saves for her 23rd career shutout and her sixth this season. Her 23 career shutouts now place her in a tie for third place on Elizabethtown's all-time list. Lebanon Valley actually outshot the Blue Jays 15-8.

Elizabethtown will now advance to play Messiah in the Commonwealth Conference championship game Saturday in Grantham at 1:00 p.m. The winner of the conference championship game will receive an automatic NCAA tournament bid.

At Annville, Pa.
Commonwealth Conference Semifinal
Elizabethtown 2, Lebanon Valley 0
Elizabethtown (11-8)  1 1 — 2
Lebanon Valley (11-6) 0 0 — 0

First Period Scoring:
EC—Brandy Espenshade, 6:20

Second Period Scoring:
EC—Lauren Potosky, 17:09

Shots: EC 8, LV 15. Corners: EC 5, LV 5. Goalie Saves: Kate VanValkenburgh (EC) 7, Candace Miller (LV) 2, Beth Gross (LV) 5.