Freedom Offensive Player of the Year Niki Ikeda scores game-winner in 52nd minute
Champinship Central Page
MADISON, N.J. (Field Hockey) – The top-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham Devils captured their first Freedom Conference Field Hockey Championship with a 2-1 win over the second-seeded Misericordia Cougars. The Cougars finished runner-up for the second-straight season.
The 2014 Freedom Offensive Player of the Year Niki Ikeda scored the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute. Kim Davis’ shot was deflected by Ikeda and into the net for the 2-1 lead.
Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham (14-7) took a 1-0 lead in the first half at the eight minute mark when Davis scored on a penalty stroke. But less than three minutes later, Misericordia (13-8) tied the game at 1-1.
The Cougars’ Lindsay Hischak collected a rebound on a shot by Hannah Harvey and scored.
The Devils’ goalkeeper Amy Defnet faced 10 shots and made six saves. Misericordia’s Angela Pasquini faced 11 shots and made three saves.
Ikeda was named the Freedom Conference Championship Most Valuable Player.
Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham earns the Freedom Conference’s automatic qualifier (AQ) to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The field will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 10:30 p.m. at www.NCAA.com.
Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham's Niki Ikeda was named Freedom Championship MVP