Top-seeded Monroe Community College held Herkimer County Community College scoreless over the game’s final 51:43 as it won the Region III championship game 11-2 Sunday at Wehrum Stadium.
The Lady Generals got off to a quick start bolting to a 2-0 lead on a pair of Jolene Quinta goals with still 21:43 left in the first half.
Quinta’s second goal, after she pounced on a loose ball in front of the Monroe goal, would be all the Lady Generals would get as Monroe dominated the rest of the way.
“We didn’t transition very well from the defensive to offensive end today,” HCCC coach Diane Ste-Marie said shortly after the game. “They are a good team and having playing together for a long time.
It was Monroe’s third win of the season over the Lady Generals and the second consecutive year they have beaten them for the Region III title.
Monroe advances to next weekend’s NJCAA Final Four to be hosted by HCCC.
HCCC’s season is not over with the loss as they also will advance to the nationals and play in the semifinals on Saturday.
Monroe coach Craig Chamberlain said his team had a clear focus on who they needed to neutralize to beat the Lady Generals.
“We absolutely weren’t going to let Jolene Quinta or Melissa Brennan get those transition passes to get their offense going,” Chamberlain said. “They had 157 goals on the season and those two combined for 150 points.”
The Tribunes allowed the two Quinta goals early and completely shut down Brennan.
Monroe got on the board with 18:58 left in the half on a goal from Kristine Olijnyk and then tied the game just 23 seconds later when Amber French scored on a breakaway.
Tournament Dana Chubb would add two goals and Olijnyk another to put Monroe up 5-2 at the half.
“We played a pretty good first half, but just could never get anything going offensively today,” Ste-Marie said.
Chamberlain said the Lady Generals put his team back on its heels a bit with the quick start.
“It was just a matter of making good decisions and we didn’t do that in the first half,” Chamberlain said. “Once that improved it allowed us to run our offense better.”
Things changed little in the second half as Olijnyk added three more goals and Chubb a couple more.
Olijnyk was an all-tournament selection as was French and goalie Morgan Achilles.
Korinn Nash, Emily Niederman and goalie Julie McAvoy all made the all-tournament team for HCCC.