SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-- The ride was going to have to end for one team. Eastern University Field Hockey and their counterparts from Skidmore College both came into today's National Quarterfinal at Skidmore enjoying the best seasons in their respective program's histories. The host Thoroughbreds broke a 3-3 tie with 2:41 to play and held on a for a 4-3 win and a spot in next weekend's Final Four at Christopher Newport University. The Eagles' (20-3) dream season ends in the Elite Eight.

Things started well for the Eagles as Brittany Moyer opened the scoring in the third minute. The sophomore forward converted from in close on a nice cross from Yvonne Herbster. "Vonnie played a great ball in," Head Coach Camrin Azzarano said of the opening goal, "she put just enough lift on the ball to make it hard to defend, but Brittany was able to gather it and put it away."

The Eagles entered the day on a run of 470+ minutes without allowing a goal. The bid for a seventh consecutive shutout ended in the ninth minute as Skidmore senior standout Christine Kemp outraced the Eastern defense for her 28th goal of the year.

"Their 24 (Kemp) was a serious player, " Azzarano said of the two-time All-American, "she put pressure on our defense and I think our midfield got pulled in directions we did not want to go out of concern for her."

Four minutes later, Kemp helped the hosts secure a 2-1 lead with a pass in transition to Brittany O'Brien. Though the game continued to move toward goals, the score remained at 2-1 largely because of the efforts of Eastern goalie Laura Ressler, the senior backstop turned away seven shots over the next 37 minutes to give her teammates time to equalize. She would finish with 10 saves on the day.

The Eagles drew level in the 50th minute as Jess Jaindl redirected a Kim Campbell blast on a penalty corner. The goal looked very similar to many of the other 17 tallies from the first year forward this year. The slightest touch on a low hard shot eliminates the goalie but still keeps the ball on the cage. Throughout the year, Azzarano has marveled at Jaindl's ability to finish in close.

The Thoroughbreds retook the lead in the 57th minute on O'Brien's second goal of the match. O'Brien also deflected a shot in front on a penalty corner. That lead, however, was short-lived as Jaindl redirected a Kelby Bolton shot for her third goal of the NCAA Tournament in the 59th minute of action. Bolton's hard shot off the insert from Christen Haas was on goal, but Jaindl again redirected the ball past the goalkeeper. 

Both teams had opportunity to take the lead over the next 10 minutes, but the hosts held off several Eastern attempts, and they found the game winner after a period of possession deep in the Eastern end. 

"We just couldn't get out of our end," Azzarano said, "Hope [Donnelly] made a great defensive save, and we battled, but they were strong to the ball and kept the pressure on. I'm very proud of the way our team competed, and obviously the success of the season speaks a lot about how much this team has done. We fell just a little short tonight."

Today's game is the final one in an Eastern Uniform for a group of five seniors who have won a three straight Freedom Conference Championships. Sarah Garber, Kim Campbell, Laura Ressler, Lisa Gocht, and Tara Schisler have been part of a team that has won nearly 80% of their games over the past three years. Ressler will represent Eastern on the field one final time as she competes in the NFHCA Senior All-Star Game at the Final Four next weekend.

Skidmore will play Bowdoin in one National Semifinal. Messiah and Ursinus will meet in the other.