Salisbury University adopted its current name on July 1, 2001, after previously operating as Maryland State Normal School (1925-34), Maryland State Teachers College (1934-63), Salisbury State College (1963-88), and Salisbury State University (1988-2001). In honor of the silver anniversary of the institution's rechristening, we're spinning the "Gulls Greatest Hits" and revisiting each varsity team's biggest moment in the Salisbury University era.
Field Hockey | Nov. 22, 2003 – NCAA Division III National Championship Game
Setting the Stage
Dawn Chamberlin took the reins as Sea Gull field hockey's head coach in 1987, one year after serving as an
assistant on the program's first-ever national championship team. Over the next 16 years she sustained and built upon the Gulls' success, reaching the final four five times and missing the NCAA Tournament only once. The only thing missing come Year 17 was a national title she could call her own. It was in single-minded pursuit of this crown jewel that Salisbury field hockey took to the turf in 2003.
Salisbury opened the season at a torrid pace, winning its first nine games by a combined margin of 45-4. The Sea Gulls' lone setback came at the hands of TCNJ, 4-1, on Oct. 11, but SU regrouped and answered with a 3-1 triumph over reigning national champions Rowan, who bounced the Gulls in double overtime in the 2002 semis.
The revenge over Rowan helped propel Salisbury to a Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) crown and a 16-1 record heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Sea Gulls hosted the first two rounds and dispatched Mount Holyoke (2-0) and Messiah (4-1) with ease to punch their ticket to Annville, Pa., and a third Final Four in four years. Slated for a rematch against TCNJ, SU went up on a 15th-minute snipe from
Lindsey Elliott and held off the Lions, 1-0, to set up a date with Middlebury in its first championship game appearance since 1986.
Key Faces
The dynastic Delmar (Del.) High School Wildcats were well represented by the family triumvirate of
Lindsey Elliott,
Brittany Elliott, and
Erin Budd, with the two sisters and cousin teaming up for 47 of the Sea Gulls' 81 goals on the year. Senior Lindsey and sophomore Brittany shared the team lead with 18 goals apiece, with Brittany contributing 15 assists to Lindsey's eight. Junior back Budd, meanwhile, netted 11 goals and distributed 15 helpers, and junior midfielder
Melissa Webster notched 12 assists to go along with two goals.
SU placed seven players on the All-CAC teams, with
Lindsey Elliott repeating as CAC Player of the Year, while another Delmar product in
Tracey Lloyd (10 goals, one assist) captured CAC Rookie of the Year, and Chamberlin took home CAC Coach of the Year for the ninth straight campaign. The Elliotts, Budd, Webster, and back
Sara Saubier earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Region prizes, while
Lindsey Elliott and Webster made NFHCA First-Team All-American.
How It Happened
The nearly 500 in attendance on a sunny, 63-degree afternoon were treated to a maroon and gold masterclass. Lloyd started the party early with a strike in the sixth minute, then Budd fed
Brittany Elliott just six minutes later to double the SU lead. The Panthers got off the schneid in the 17th as Char Glessner put one in the back of the cage, but the Gulls were confident heading into halftime up 2-1.
With the crown in sight, the Elliott sisters locked to put Middlebury away for good. The Brittany-from-Budd connection struck again in the 42nd minute, then
Abby Rowe fed Lindsey in the 47th to build the margin to 4-1. The three-goal cushion was more than enough for keeper
Melissa Taylor, who stopped seven Panther attacks to salt it away.
After the team had been introduced to open the postgame ceremony, Taylor made a beeline for Chamberlin and wrapped her head coach in a bear hug. Chamberlin then jogged over to shake the hands of the championship committee, and as she finished, she turned into a dead sprint back to her players, fist pumping as she disappeared into the sea of maroon and gold. Returning to receive the main prize moments later, flanked by her captains, the frustrations of 17 years melted away as Chamberlin hoisted her first national championship trophy.
Reflections from HC Dawn Chamberlin
"From the seniors to the first years, that was most definitely a team of characters. They always worked hard and competed harder, and there was never a dull moment! We had a lot of laughs, and it was such an exciting and challenging group in a fun way. We traveled to [Final Four host site] Lebanon Valley in an old Dawson bus that leaned significantly and looked like it would break down any moment, while one of our opponents pulled up in a sparkling Mercedes bus and snickered as they walked by. Needless to say, that just added fuel to the fire.
"One of my favorite moments was our pregame walk to the field. Our NCAA committee rep was very uptight because our team was late coming out of the locker room, and when we finally hit the path to the field,
Brittany Elliott was twirling her baton like she was leading a parade. It was awesome to see them so relaxed, but that was this team. They knew once that first whistle sounded they would bring a fierce competitiveness to the game, so why not enjoy every minute of the experience? You just had to smile and laugh!"
Reflections from Sr. Captain Lindsey (Elliott) Barbacow
"Winning the national championship is one of those memories that will always hold a special place in my heart. We had come so close in the years leading up to 2003, and I think those experiences made us even more determined to finally win it all. We knew what it felt like to fall short, and we didn't want to experience that feeling again. Our only loss that season came against TCNJ, so having the opportunity to face them again in the national semifinals, come away with a win, and advance to the championship game made the journey that much sweeter.
"For me personally, what made that championship even more special was being able to share it with my sister and cousin. Salisbury field hockey has been such a big part of our family, and to be able to experience something like that together is something I will never take for granted. To finish my senior year with a national championship, surrounded by family and teammates who had become like family, was more than I could have ever asked for.
"When I look back on that season, I certainly remember the excitement of winning, but what means the most to me now are the people I shared it with. The bus rides, the practices, the laughs, the hard work, and all the little moments in between are what made that team so special. More than 20 years later, those friendships still mean so much to me. We may not put on the same uniform or step onto the field together anymore, but I will always consider those women my teammates.
"I'm incredibly proud of what we accomplished in 2003, but even more grateful for the people and memories that came with it. That championship will always be a part of my story, and SUFH will always be a part of who I am."
Aftermath
The 2003 title was the canary in the coalmine for a maroon and gold-dominated decade. In 2004 the Sea Gulls posted a perfect 22-0 mark and took down Middlebury in a 6-3 romp to win back-to-back national titles, while in 2005 the three-peat came via a 1-0 squeaker over Messiah in the championship game. Salisbury added another title in 2009 to make it five in program history and four in the Chamberlin era. Now in her 40th season, Chamberlin has won well over 600 games, earned three National Coach of the Year honors, and led SU to the Final Four 15 times, most recently in 2024.
The Delmar gang would continue to wreak havoc over the next three years, with
Brittany Elliott, Budd, and Lloyd combining for six more All-America nods. Four stars from the 2003 side have since been inducted into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame –
Melissa Webster and
Lindsey (Elliott) Barbacow led the charge in 2015, followed by
Brittanny (Elliott) Mitchell in 2016 and
Erin (Budd) DeHaven in 2018.
As for
Lindsey Barbacow, her SUFH story was just beginning. She began her coaching career as an assistant under Chamberlin in 2004 and eventually served as head coach at Mary Washington from 2011-17. In 2012, the Eagles went 20-2 and advanced to the Final Four for the first time in program history, and Barbacow was named NFHCA Region Coach of the Year. The pull of home was eventually too much, though, and Barbacow returned to Salisbury in 2018, where she currently serves as Chamberlin's top lieutenant and the university's Director of Club Sports.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 26 individual national championships, and 211 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
