Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Field Hockey Tournament, 1st Round
Cabrini University Cavaliers (11-8, 4-1 Atlantic East) vs. FDU-Florham Devils (10-8, 5-2 MAC Freedom)
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 4pm
Robert T. Shields Field, Madison, NJ
 
Game Day Links: Live Stats, Webcast, Digital Program
View ECAC Div. III Field Hockey Tournament Bracket (PDF)
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Tickets: Admission to the game is $% for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $2 for students and children. Children under six with an adult will be free.
 
What is at Stake?
The Cavaliers and Devils will meet for the first time in program history with a berth in Saturday's semifinal round at stake. Today's winner will face either Misericordia or Marywood, who meet tonight in another semifinal match-up. 
 
Tonight's other pod also included a pair of first round meetings, as Ramapo hosts Sweet Briar and William Paterson visits Widener.
 
All four of tonight's winners will convene at a site to be announced for Saturday's semifinal games, with a champion to be crowned on Sunday.
 
How Cabrini Got Here
The Cavaliers advance to the ECAC Tournament after capturing the program's fifth conference title on Saturday, topping number one seed St. Mary's (MD) 2-1 in double overtime. 
 
After surrendering an early goal, the Cavaliers found their footing. Cabrini's defense kept the Seahawks off the board over the next 77 minutes, while its offense increased its pressure on the home team's cage.
 
The pressure pair off in the 48h minute, as the Cavaliers go on the board courtesy of graduate student Shannon Agnew's second career market. Both sides pressed to gain a late advantage on the scoreboard, as the teams combined for 10 shots and five penalty corners in the final 15 minute period, but the score remained tied as the game went into overtime.
 
SMC created several scoring chances in the first extra 10 minute period, but a 64^th minute defensive save by freshman Sarah Hussey and a 67^th minute stop by freshman goaltender Courtney Keith kept the game tied.

The Cavaliers returned the favor in the second extra period, as senior Allison Martin forced a pair of SMC saves in the opening 90 seconds of the period. Cabrini never let up its pressure, firing five shots in the second overtime.

With the game set to head to a shootout at the end of the second extra period, the Blue and White put an end to the action. With just 47 seconds left on the clock, sophomore Caroline Gallagher sent a ball into the center of the goal area, where it found freshman Adrianna Jones on the far post for the game winning marker.  
 
Scouting the Cavaliers
Winners of seven of their last nine games, the Cavaliers are riding a turnaround that saw them go from 3-16 in 2019 to conference champions in 2021.
 
The Cabrini attack features five players who have recorded at least 10 points on the season, led by  Gallagher. The sophomore led the Atlantic East Conference with 31 points on 13 goals and eight assists on 116 shots. Gallagher recorded at least one point in 13 of 18 games this season, including a hat trick in a victory over Alvernia.
 
Senior Allison Martin entered the season with just eight career points, but currently ranks second on the squad with 23 points on 10 goals and three helpers. 
 
Jones and sophomore Daly Ewing have added six goals each, while senior Katelyn Martin and junior Olivia Sims' five assists rank second on the club.
 
Keith, who was named MVP of the championship game, anchors the Cabrini defense. The rookie has seen every minute on the Blue and White cage and sports a 1.83 goals against average with four shutouts on the year. 
 
How FDU-Florham Got Here
The Devils surrendered the game-winning goal with six minutes left in their regular season finale, falling to the third in the MAC Freedom Tournament. The loss sent FDU on the road for the conference semifinal round, where it fell to Misericordia in double-overtime. 
 
The Devils struggled to find their offense, as they were held without a shot or penalty corner until the 47^th minute. After a scoreless 60 minutes of regulation, FDU found itself on the short end of a 9-2 disadvantage in shots, but the scoresheet remained clean.
 
The Cougars seized control of the first overtime period, recording six shots, but the Devils' graduate student goaltender Megan March was up to the task, recording five of her nine saves in the extra period. 
 
Early in the second overtime period, the Devils created several chances, as senior Haleigh Flukey's two attempts were blocked and hit the post. Misericordia took advantage of their opportunity, tallying the day's lone marker with just 3:28 left in the second extra period. 
 
The Devils finished the day with just six shots, with just one on target, and two penalty corners.   
 
Scouting the Devils
Like the Cavaliers, the Devils sport four players in double figure scoring and one on the cusp. Flukey is the undisputed leader of the attack, as the senior was named MAC Freedom Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 13 goals, while her 31 points ranked third.
 
Freshman Ashley Moskal was named Rookie of the Year after pairing seven goal and seven assists for 21 points, while senior Sydney Moskal topped the league's leader board with nine assists on the season. 
 
March was also named the conference's top netminder after recording a league high 792 save percentage. In her 14 appearance, the senior went 7-7 with a 1.611 goals against average with 84 saves. 
 
Perhaps one advantage for the Devils is their dominance on their home turf. FDU enters tonight's game with a perfect 7-0 record and won 29 of their last 23 games at Shields Field. This season, the Devils have outscored their opponents 25-4 at home, including four shutouts.