Sunday conference finals

Cover Photo: Junior Aaron Walker of Oglethorpe. Oglethrope Athletics Photo.

By Justin Phelps

Our quick look at most of today's conference action in both mens and women's play. For a complete look at all of the conference tournament results, check out our Tournament Central page.

Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

The third-ranked and top-seeded women of Trinity (Texas) scored twice in less than 90 seconds during the second half to take a three-goal lead and coast to a 4-0 victory Sunday in the SCAC tournament championship. Unbeaten now through 20 games, Trinity earned its fourth straight SCAC title with goals from senior Kelly Watts (19th minute), freshman Emily Jorgens (55th minute), senior Abby Loar (56th minute) and sophomore Shelby Guenthardt (89th minute). Centre, ranked 22nd, was held to two shots on goal.

Oglethorpe sophomore Sean King scored in the 19th minute and the second-seeded Stormy Petrels held on for a 1-0 victory over fifth-seeded Centre in the SCAC tournament championship. Oglethorpe (17-3-0), which has won 14 of its last 15, will make its first trip to the NCAA tournament. Centre (13-6-1) made an unlikely run to the league’s championship game, the first played since 1992.

New England Small College Athletic Conference

Down a goal and eight minutes away from suffering its first setback of the season, seventh-ranked Amherst’s dominating play finally paid off. Junior Kathryn Nathan scored the equalizer in the 83rd minute, then served the corner kick that junior Sandy Shepherd buried in the 86th minute to keep top-seeded Amherst unbeaten this season with a 2-1 victory over 18th-ranked and third-seeded Williams.

Stevens senior Kathleen Schuckers was awarded the Most Valuable Player in the Empire 8 tournament     Stevens Athletics

The NESCAC championship is the first since 2003 for Amherst (17-0-0), which had 10 shots on goal and a 9-0 edge in corner kicks. Williams (10-4-3) now awaits a Pool C invite to the NCAA tournament.

In men's play, Amherst junior Federico Sucre assisted on junior Spencer Noon’s goal in the 20th minute and scored an insurance goal in the 48th minute to lead the top-seeded Lord Jeffs in a 2-0 victory over third-seeded Trinity (Conn.) and to their second NESCAC tournament championship. Senior goalkeeper Lennard Kovacs needed four saves to earn his eighth shutout, this one in a match that featured eight cautions.

Twelfth-ranked Amherst (14-1-2) has allowed one goal in its last 289 minutes. Trinity (10-5-2) made its first appearance in the NESCAC tournament final.

American Southwest Conference

Texas-Tyler senior Victor Almendariz scored twice in the second half to seal a 3-0 victory over second-seeded Hardin-Simmons for the ASC tournament championship. Top-seeded Texas-Tyler (15-2-2) claimed its second straight ACS tournament title and third in four years. Hardin-Simmons (11-5-3) fell short in its bid for its eighth league championship.

In women's action, top-seeded, fifth-ranked, and defending national champion Hardin-Simmons had goals from sophomores Vivian Wells and Devon Howard to claim the ASC championship over second-seeded Texas-Dallas, 2-0. H-S (19-1) won its ninth straight ASC tournament championship. Second-seeded Texas-Dallas (16-4-0), which has lost to H-S six times in the tournament finale in the last nine years, now awaits a possible Pool C invite to the NCAA tournament.

North Eastern Athletic Conference

In a re-match of last season’s men's NEAC championship, top-seeded SUNY-IT scored twice in the last 20 minutes to win its second consecutive league championship over third-seeded Penn State-Harrisburg, 2-0. SUNY-IT (9-5-4) had goals from senior Trevor Totman (71st minute) and junior Joe Pfaffenberger (88th minute). The physical contest had 25 fouls, 10 cautions and five ejections.

Dickinson junior keeper Cody Hickok set two shutout records in the Centennial tournament               Photo by James Rasp

On the women's side, second-seeded Penn State-Abington upset top-seeded Lancaster Bible in penalty kicks, 4-2, after a 2-2 draw in the NEAC championship. Abington (16-1-1) claimed its first NEAC tournament title while Lancaster Bible (18-2-0) was seeking its first NCAA tournament appearance.

Empire 8 

Stevens junior Zach Adler capitalized on a turnover by third-seeded Elmira to create a breakaway and scored the game-winner in the 88th minute of a 2-1 victory for the Empire 8 championship. Seventh-ranked and top-seeded Stevens (16-1-0) won its 15th in a row in claiming its eighth straight league title. Adler scored the equalizer in the 40th minute.

The top-seeded women joined in by earning the Empire 8 tournament championship with a 2-0 victory over second-seeded Nazareth. Stevens (14-3-3), which had goals from sophomores Bridgette Barden and Lindsay Stoll in a five-minute span of the second half, has lost only once in its last 18 games. Nazareth (10-4-4) was looking for its ninth E8 title, but first since 2006.

New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference

Freshman Kevin Nowak scored the equalizer for second-seeded Springfield (10-4-4) in the NEWMAC championship, but top-seeded Babson fell to the Pride, settling a 1-1 draw in penalties, 4-3. Springfield breaks Babson's three year NEWMAC championship streak and takes the AQ home to Western Mass.

For the women, MIT sophomore Samantha Fleischmann scored in the 83rd minute to tie top-seeded Springfield 1-1 and the Engineers won the NEWMAC tournament title in penalties, 4-3, in a rematch of the 2009 championship won by MIT. MIT (15-3-2) is unbeaten in its last eight including four overtime matches.  Springfield (14-3-2) now awaits the NCAA tournament selection.

Centennial Conference

Could Hopkins be the best women's soccer team in the country? The top-seeded and fourth-ranked Blue Jays won their seventh straight Centennial tournament title and 10th overall with a 2-0 victory over second-seeded Gettysburg. Johns Hopkins (19-0-0) had goals from senior Jessica Hnatiuk and sophomore Christina Convey. Gettysburg (12-7-0) last played in the tournament final in 2004, when it defeated Johns Hopkins 4-3.

On the men's side, senior Bryan Gilmartin scored the equalizer for second-seeded Dickinson in the 76th minute, and the Red Devils earned their first Centennial tournament championship in penalties, 3-2, over fifth-seeded Haverford after a 1-1 tie. Dickinson (11-4-4) played in the league final only once before in 2009, while Haverford (11-7-1) made a historic first run to the league final as only the second fifth seed to make the Centennial championship game.