SUWANEE, Ga. - Rhodes clinched the top seed at the SCAC Field Hockey tournament for the sixth time in the last seven years this past weekend with shutout wins over DePauw and Sewanee. Heading into the final regular season weekend of 2010, the Lynx are looking to become the first team in conference history with a perfect SCAC record taking on the Warriors of Hendrix.

- AROUND THE SCAC -

Centre improved to 9-4 on the season in a pair of non-conference contests this last week.  The Colonels lost a tough match to nationally ranked Bellarmine University (NCAA D-II) despite outshooting the Knights 15-10 and earning an 11-7 penalty corner advantage.  Centre was led by Barbara Parks and Jennifer Bohnert.  Both played exceptionally well in attack and defense and were backed up in goal by a resurgent Patty Cowley who played her best match of the season thus far. Against Transylvania, the Colonels posted 5 first half goals en route to a 7-0 route.  Parks again led the way with two goals and an assist.  Freshmen Courtney Kuiper and Chelsea Klein also added two goals each.  Katy Meyer added her second goal of the season and freshman Leah Storch posted her first career assist. Centre received solid defensive contributions from Bohnert, senior Sarah Humphries and sophomore Sydney White.  The Colonels finish regular season play this coming weekend by hosting Sewanee and DePauw and will solidify either the #2 or #3 seed in the SCAC Championship scheduled for Nov. 5-7.

DePauw is 11-5 overall and 5-2 in the SCAC after splitting its two weekend games. The Tigers lost at Rhodes, 2-0, before taking a 3-2 double overtime win at Hendrix. Rhodes scored once in each half and became the first team to shut out DePauw. The Lynx outshot DePauw 8-3 and held a 6-4 advantage in penalty corners. Margaret Ellis' goal midway through the second overtime lifted DePauw to the win at Hendrix. Ellis gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead at 20:17 on Kimberly Trainor's assist before Addie McDonnell made it 2-0 just 1:36 into the second half on another Trainor assist. The hosts scored twice in less than three minutes before Ellis delivered the game-winner at 93:21 with Bridgette Shamleffer assisting. The Tigers outshot Hendrix 15-13 and held a 13-12 edge in corners. DePauw's Liz Attewell totaled eight saves.

Hendrix stretched its win streak to four games after a 1-0 win over Sewanee on Saturday afternoon.  Unfortunately, DePauw halted the streak and spoiled Hendrix’s Senior Day celebration with a 3-2 double-overtime nail biter on Sunday afternoon at Warrior Field.  The Warriors fall to 5-8 overall and 1-6 in SCAC play.  DePauw remains unbeaten against Hendrix after seven affairs.  Hendrix picked up its first SCAC win of the year, set a new school record for most wins in a season and marked a new school record for most consecutive wins on Sunday.  The Warriors’ fourth all-time “W” against Sewanee avenged a 1-0 loss to the Tigers in the opening round of the 2009 SCAC Tournament.  Hendrix has now won two straight regular season match-ups against Sewanee.  Senior defender Taylor LaFortune scored the game-winning goal just six minutes into the affair off a rebound in front of the net.  LaFortune sent a penalty corner pass to senior forward Katie Schaiff, who then sent a rocket off the keeper’s pad and LaFortune was there to clean it up for her second goal of the season.  Hendrix senior goalkeeper Alyssa Havens denied eight shots in her fourth shutout of the year, another new school record.  DePauw outlasted Hendrix, 3-2, on a score in the 93rd minute.  Both goalkeepers combined for 11 saves in overtime.  Sophomore forward Margaret Ellis was in on a scrum just in front of the left goal post and managed to tap the ball over the end line to lead the Tigers to victory.  Ellis’ second goal of the game came off an assist from sophomore forward Bridgette Shamleffer.  Hendrix bounced back and finally lit up its half of the scoreboard on back-to-back goals within a three minute span.  Senior defender Heather Newell sent a shot in from about 10 yards off the left side of goal during the 45th minute and senior forward Lexy Byrne knocked one in from about four yards out in the 48th minute.  Sophomores Maggie DesPain and Kelly Rappe made their third and first assists of the season, respectively.  After facing zero shots during the opening half, the goalkeepers faced 24 shots combined during the last 58 minutes.  Havens gave a brilliant effort in front of the net with 11 saves on Senior Day.

Rhodes had a strong showing at home this weekend shutting out both DePauw and Sewanee with 2-0 and 4-0 wins respectively.  Junior midfielder Sarah Kennedy scored the game winner for the Lynx over DePauw on Friday while Charlie Wagner scored on a stroke for the Lynx first goal against Sewanee on Sunday.  Lindsey Gurkovich led the offense with two goals and an assist, taking her career point total to 100.  Lindsey is the first Lynx to eclipse the 100 point mark in her career, besting Lee Thomas’ (2004) previous career record of 98.  Lindsey is also the Lynx career leader in assists with 26.  Libby Jones tallied a goal and an assist on Sunday in her best game of the year while Libby Feaster found the back of the cage on a rebound shot as well.  Marie Mason, Regan McLaughlin, and Sara Sanders all had outstanding matches on the defensive end shutting out both opponents with the help of goalkeepers Sarah Dockery and Jordan Robinson.  The Lynx advance to 14-1, setting a new mark for wins in a season.  Rhodes will play Hendrix at home on Saturday at 1 pm for their last regular season match.

Sewanee went 0-2 in SCAC play this weekend, falling to Hendrix 1-0 and Rhodes 4-0.  On Saturday, Taylor LaFortune got Hendrix College on the board just six minutes into the contest and that was all the Warriors needed, as they downed Sewanee in field hockey, 1-0, this afternoon. The Tigers fall to 4-9 overall and 1-5 in SCAC play, while Hendrix moves to 5-7 on the season and 1-5 in conference action. The Warriors came out shooting against the Tigers, taking three shots in the first six minutes before LaFortune’s goal. Hendrix earned a penalty corner at the 5:55 mark and Warrior Katie Schaiff took a shot at Sewanee goalkeeper Anna Morrow. Morrow initially saved the Schaiff’s shot, but the ball rebounded and LaFortune connected with it. LaFortune’s shot put the Warriors up 1-0 and it was all they would need. Sewanee had several opportunities throughout the next 64 minutes, but just couldn’t capitalize, as the Hendrix defense held on for the win. Hendrix held the edge in shots, twelve to eight, and in corners, ten to eight. Morrow collected nine saves for the Tigers while Hendrix keeper Alyssa Havens came up with eight. The Rhodes Lynx turned a 1-0 halftime lead into a 4-0 victory over visiting Sewanee in field hockey action this afternoon. Charlie Wagner’s penalty stroke goal in the first period was all Rhodes needed, but the Lynx added three second half goals in the effort. Rhodes out shot Sewanee 12 to six in the effort. Sewanee falls to 4-10 overall and 1-6 in SCAC play.

To view the entire SCAC Sticks Weekly for week eight, click here.