Box Score The regular season ended just as it began, with a Mia Day goal and a Denison Big Red victory. In the most anticipated field hockey contest in recent Denison history, the Big Red avenged a 3-2 overtime loss to DePauw on Oct. 1 behind a frantic final three minutes which saw Day record the game-winning goal and Brittany Benson post back-to-back saves with just seconds to play.
The regulation victory gives Denison the No. 1 seed in next week's NCAC Tournament. The Big Red will own home field advantage for Wednesday's semifinal match and for Saturday's championship, should they advance.
Saturday's clash with 20th ranked DePauw was one for the ages as the two teams slugged it out on both ends of the field. DePauw held a first half advantage in shots, taking five while DU attempted three. In the second half the Big Red turned up the intensity and started racking up penalty corner attempts.
With 17 minutes to play, Denison earned a penalty corner and Hilary Zdanowski served the ball to senior Caroline Kasper whose shot appeared to give Denison a 1-0 lead. That goal would be waived off as Kasper's attempt came from just outside the shooting circle.
DU would remain patient and after a shot by Alex B. Berman was saved by Maggie Steele in the 62nd minute, Denison kept the ball on their side of the field and finally, with just over two minutes left in the second half, Catie Merrick sent a shot into the teeth of the Tiger defense. It was blocked but the ball caromed out to the right to a waiting Day who slapped an open shot past Steele for the goal. The goal was Day's third of the season. Her first goal came in the first half of Denison's very first game of 2011, her bookend to this magical 16-1 regular season is fitting.
Right after the Big Red goal, DePauw took over possession and went to work. They forced a penalty corner with 55 seconds remaining and with 41 seconds left Margaret Ellis sent a bullet at the Denison cage but Benson was there with the kick save.
Benson's kick knocked the ball back in the direction of Ellis and she came at the DU netminder with a follow-up shot that was turned away once again by Benson. This time the Denison defense would clear the ball out of bounds as time expired.
DePauw held a 13-10 advantage in shots and a 9-6 lead in penalty corner attempts. Benson posted eight saves while picking up her ninth shutout win of the season. Merrick and Taylor Bacon led DU in shots with two apiece. Ellis and Bridgette Shamleffer paced DePauw with five shots each.
The win ties Denison (16-1) with DePauw atop the NCAC regular season standings at 13-1, it also snaps DePauw's 15-game winning streak. Denison will be the number one seed in next week's NCAC Tournament and will take on No. 4 seed, Wittenberg, on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Piper Stadium. In the other semifinal match, No. 2 DePauw will host No. 3 Wooster at 3 p.m. in Greencastle, Ind.
The winners of the semifinals will meet on Saturday (Nov. 5) at the site of the highest remaining seed to determine the 2011 NCAC Champion and the recipient of the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament.
