SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - The Salisbury University field hockey team played a dominant defensive game Sunday afternoon, claiming the program's fifth national championship with a 1-0 win against Messiah College.

"We were really focused on what we needed to do today. We were just ecstatic to get an opportunity to play in a national championship and really to get another shot at Messiah," Salisbury coach Dawn Chamberlin said. "They were our only loss during the season [a 3-2 loss in overtime on Sept. 19] and we wanted to avenge that loss and I think we did a nice job of that today."

Salisbury (20-1) drew first blood, scoring less than four minutes into the match, off a penalty corner. Senior midfielder Michelle Rowe (Elkton, Md.) got the play started, inserting the ball to sophomore back Tara McGovern (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) at the top of the circle. McGovern found sophomore forward Caitlin Walker (Fallston, Md.) on the left side of the goal, and Walker was able to put home the game winner.

"I give the credit to Nick Fiorentino, my assistant coach," Chamberlin said. "He watched their warm-up on their corners and he said they had a weak spot right there defending that, so we called that corner and put it in right away."

The one goal proved to be enough, as it has in 13 shutouts this season, with solid play in both the midfield and the defense in front of sophomore goalkeeper Anna Cooke (Ann Arbor, Mich.). The Sea Gull defense allowed just three shots by the Falcons (22-1) to get through to Cooke.

"It was a great game, Messiah played hard, but our girls, we played together," Cooke said. "We truly are 30 strong and that showed today."

The last team to collect two shutouts on championship weekend was Bloomsburg University in 1987; this was the first time in tournament history that a team has won the title with two 1-0 victories. Sunday also marked the first shutout in a national championship game since Salisbury topped Messiah 1-0 in the 2005 title game.

"We play some very tough defense," Chamberlin said. "We've had a lot of shutouts throughout the season, and we play very strong in our defensive end. We play very well full field and this team has been poised under pressure and that showed today."

Messiah has made seven championship appearances without coming away with a title, while Salisbury is now perfect in its five championship game appearances (1986, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2009).

"I think there's a lot of pride. We have a reputation and our reputation is one of being a very strong program and being successful and knowing how to finish the season hard," Chamberlin said. "I think we do a good job of peaking at the right time."

The title helps end the career of five Salisbury seniors on a high note. Forward Lauren Correll (Bridgeville, Del.), forward Beverly Beladino (Putnam Valley, N.Y.), midfielder Jennifer Bandy (Ellicott City, Md.), midfielder Caitlyn Ruffus (Lincroft, N.J.) and Rowe posted a record of 72-11 in their four-year career, making two national semifinal appearances, winning the Capital Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles every year and now their first national championship.

"I couldn't ask for anything else," Correll said. "We've come very close the rest of the years, and to end like this is just amazing and I owe it all to my teammates."

Correll was named to the All-Tournament team along with Cooke, McGovern and Walker.

LINKS:

NCAA Championship weekend slide show