NOVEMBER 4, 2006
WYCHOCK HAT TRICK POWERS KING'S TO FREEDOM
CONFERENCE CROWN, NCAA D-III NATIONAL TOURNAMENT BERTH
WILKES-BARRE
-- Debbie Wychock (left) scored all three goals to garner
tournament most valuable player honors as the King's College field
hockey team won its first-ever Freedom Conference championship with a
3-0 victory over the University of Scranton Saturday at Betzler Fields.
With the win, King's extended its school-record victory total, improving
to 19-3 on the year while securing the first NCAA Division III National
Tournament berth since field hockey began at King's in 1992. Scranton
ended its season at 11-9.
Scranton would control for much of the action territorially much of the
first eight minutes of the half as King's would manage to cross the
50-yard line on one occasion. The Lady Monarchs, however, would strike
first on a penalty corner when senior Lindsay Sabo played the
ball to Wychock who launched a rocket shot passed Scranton goalie
Rochelle Paquette for the first goal of the game with 25:23 remaining in
the first half. King's would take a 2-0 lead into the break when Wychock
drilled in another shot off an entry pass by Christina Glenn with
8:01 on the clock.
Wychock would then push across the final goal of the game when she
converted a penalty stroke with 28:03 left in the contest. It was
Wychock's sixth successful penalty stroke of the year in eight attempts.
From there it was King's defense which continually stonewalled the
Scranton offense. The Lady Royals would frequently move the ball within
the circle, but King's defenders would prevent Scranton from registering
shots.
The Lady Monarch defensive unit of Rianda Steck, Alicia
Barrios, Grace King, Melissa Gates, and Ave' Moran
would limit Scranton to just two shots on goal the entire game.
Sophomore goalie Kari Leach made two saves to register the
shutout win for King's.
Wychock, who added a goal in King's 6-3 semi-final victory over Delaware
Valley on Wednesday, also became the first Lady Monarch player to reach
the 60-point plateau in one season with her three-goal effort, tying
Sabo for the team lead with 25 goals on the year. Sabo has 59 points
this season.
King's outshot Scranton 8-2 while the Lady Royals
had a 10-7 advantage in penalty corners. Paquette made five saves for
Scranton.
The Lady Monarchs will now await word on their Division III National
Tournament opener, slated for Wednesday at a site and opponent to be
announced on late Sunday evening.
Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation Executive
Director Ken Andrews (right) presents Coach Cheryl Ish and team captains
Alicia Barrios and Lindsay Sabo with the Freedom Conference Championship
plaque.
Ken Andrews and Coach Cheryl Ish present Debbie
Wychock with the Freedom Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player
award.
Photos Courtesy of Bob Adams
