ANNVILLE, Pa. – Tournament MVP Mimi Sullivan scored two goals 3:58 apart early in the second half, leading the top-seeded and No. 8-ranked Lebanon Valley field hockey team to a 2-0 win over second-seeded and No. 3-ranked Messiah College in the Commonwealth Conference championship game Saturday afternoon at a sunny, brisk LVC Field Hockey Stadium.
With the win, Lebanon Valley (18-2) receives an automatic bid in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, which begins next week. Tournament pairings will be announced Sunday night.
Sullivan's effort lifted LVC to its sixth MAC or Commonwealth Conference title and its first since the Valley defeated Messiah 3-1 in the 2000 Commonwealth Conference championship match. That game also marked the Flying Dutchmen's last win over the Falcons, who had won their last eight meetings with the Valley.
Lebanon Valley will be making its 12th appearance in the NCAA tournament.
The Flying Dutchmen controlled the ball throughout the game, out-shooting Messiah 19-3. Lebanon Valley owned a 7-0 shots over the Falcons (15-4) in the first half but was unable to dent Falcon keeper Ashley Mowery, who made three first-period saves.
Mowery also stopped nine shots in the second half, but Sullivan first solved the Falcon keeper with 26:15 left in the game. After accepting a corner pass from senior Mallary Anderson at the top of the circle, Sullivan rifled a shot off a Messiah defender's stick and into the cage for the only goal the Valley would need. Then with 22:17 left, she sent home a rebound from eight yards out, setting the final score.
Senior goalie Katie Pawlewicz came up big down the stretch for Lebanon Valley, making all three of her saves over the final 17 minutes.
Sullivan also had one goal and two assists in Lebanon Valley's 5-1 Commonwealth Conference semifinal victory over Elizabethtown on Wednesday.
Messiah 0 0 - 0
Lebanon Valley 0 2 - 2
LV – Mimi Sullivan (Mallary Anderson), 43:45
LV – Mimi Sullivan (unassisted), 47:43
Shots: Messiah 3. Lebanon Valley 19.
Saves: Messiah (Ashley Mowery) 12. Lebanon Valley (Katie Pawlewicz) 3.
Penalty Corners: Messiah 5. Lebanon Valley 11.
Team Records: Messiah 15-4. Lebanon Valley 18-2.
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