(Posted November 7, 2009)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - In the brief history of the Landmark Conference, there has only been one field hockey team that has felt the success of winning the championship. The Juniata College Eagles have been that team, winning the first two championships, and continued the trend Saturday afternoon with a 1-0 victory over Susquehanna University on Winton Hill Field.

Kim Amrod's (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) goal in the first half stood as the lone tally and the Eagles were able to hold off a late surge by the Crusaders to win their third consecutive championship.

This year's championship has a different taste to it, however. For the first time, the Landmark Conference receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship, and this year the Eagles know they are in.

"It hasn't sunk in yet, it's something you can't look ahead to because you can end up in the exact opposite place than you want to," head coach Caroline Gillich explains. "But now that we are here, it's a little bit surreal to know. We've never known that we're going to NCAA's before. And it's a great feeling."

Amrod scored with 5:43 left to play in the first half off an assist from Jill McNeish (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area). The defense withstood a vicious barrage of pressure in the final moments and used the help of the goal post to secure the shutout.

Denalyn Spratt (Haddon Heights, N.J./Haddon Heights) played all 70 minutes in goal but did not have to record a save. The Crusaders goalie, Erin Ferguson, stopped three shots while playing the entire game as well.

Juniata (17-3) outshot Susquehanna, 9-3, and had more penalty corners, 8-4, for the game.

The NCAA Committee will meet Monday, Nov. 9, to determine the destination and opponent for the Eagles, and the rest of the 24-team field.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.