The Husson University women’s lacrosse team and rival Maine Maritime Academy split one-goal games this season, and now the third meeting on Saturday in the North Atlantic Conference championship game will send the winner to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
They will square off at 4 p.m. at Boucher Field on the Husson College campus in Bangor.
Both teams are 5-1 in the conference. Husson is 10-4 overall and MMA is 8-4.
Husson is the defending champ, upsetting top seed MMA 12-11 at Ritchie Field in Castine in last year’s final.
The men’s NAC championship will also be decided this weekend in Castine with semifinals on Saturday followed by a 3 p.m. title game Sunday.
Defending titlist Maine Maritime Academy, 9-5 overall and 5-0 in the conference, will play fourth seed Thomas College of Waterville (7-7, 2-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday, with No. 2 Husson (10-4, 4-1) taking on No. 3 SUNY-Delhi (6-7, 3-2) at 4:30.
The winners will meet on Sunday.
During the regular season, the Husson and MMA women each won on the road.
MMA edged the Eagles 12-11 in Bangor on March 31 before Husson earned a 10-9 win in Castine on April 18.
Husson has been led by Farmingdale senior Averi Baker, who has 37 goals and 27 assists. She scored the game-winner with 23 seconds left in the title game last year.
Sophomore Kate Boehmcke has 39 goals and 17 assists and senior Laela Martinez from Bangor has 24 goals and 12 assists. Martinez, who is originally from Baltimore, was a starting guard for the Husson basketball team.
MMA’s attack has been led by juniors Bella Scolaro (24 & 39), Lillian Diversi from West Gardiner (32 & 20) and Oakland’s Julia Wade (26 & 9).
Freshman goalie Salin Bachor from Harpswell is 7-3 with a 9.27 goals-against average and a .393 save percentage for Husson and MMA’s Ella Bowes is 8-4, 7.68, .539.
In the men’s tourney, Husson has been paced by senior Kiernan Field (54 & 25) and sophomores Dominic Hollenkamp (37 & 13) and Taylor Schwalje (15 & 25) while SUNY-Delhi features Jagger Beachak (29 & 26), Chris Lazazzaro (20 & 34) and Anthony McLaughlin (34 & 9).
Senior Odin Burk (9-4, 9.32, .521) has been Husson’s goalie while sophomore Jaden Messina (5-7, 10.09, .544) has been in goal for SUNY-Delhi.
Husson beat SUNY-Delhi 12-9 in Bangor on April 11.
Senior Trey Marcil (34 & 50), Oakland freshman Ryan Parent (48 & 25) and South Portland sophomore Tobey Lappin (43 & 19) have been MMA’s top guns and South Portland sophomore Ben Kieu (8-5, 10.00,.619) has been in goal.
Thomas has been sparked by Manchester sophomore Owen Lyons (42 & 24), senior Connor Hamilton (19 & 18) and sophomore Nicholas Pike (27 & 4) and freshman Mike Picard (7-7, 12.98, .458) has been in goal.
MMA beat Thomas 23-8 on April 8 in Castine.
