Castleton, VT - Megan Clement (Brunswick, ME) scored a goal and assisted on another as Husson University defeated Castleton State College 3-1 in the 2009 North Atlantic Conference women's soccer championship at Spartan Stadium.  With the win, the Eagles will return to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.  Kylan Smith (Sr., Presque Isle, ME) was named the NAC Tournament's most valuable player.

Clement served a perfect corner kick in the 11th minute of play and Amy Sanz (Tyngsboro, MA) was able to get enough leg on it to redirect it past the dive of Castleton keeper Erick Davis (Cambridge, VT) to break a scoreless tie. The corner was set up after Kelly Tetreault (Tolland, CT) blocked a Shelby Bradford (Lee, ME) shot that appeared destined to find
the inside of the near post. Clement scored what proved to be the game winner 19 minutes later, when Bradford lofted a pass over the defense and Clement one touched it over the outstretched hand of Davis.

Castleton nearly stole the early momentum when, in the fifth minute of play, NAC Player of the Year Courtney Chadburn (North Clarendon, VT) found herself on the back side of the defense thanks to a pass from Ashley Ledoux (Swanton, VT). Caitlyn Butterfield (Gorham, ME) came from the weak side to make a phenomenal tackle, and extinguish the threat.  After the first Eagle goal, Ledoux and Castleton pressed, nearly finding the equalizer on two different occasions. The first came on another Ledoux serve to freshman Megan Blongy (Rutland, VT) Blongy one touched it just high over the cross bar from four-yards out. The second came when Ledoux took a direct kick from 20 yards out, and struck it off the near side post. Courtney Ethier (Portsmouth, RI) struck a rocket on the rebound, but Sanz was there to block the shot and send it away from the goal. With 13:20 remaining Butterfield broke up yet another Ledoux-to-Chadburn attempt, and Ledoux rocked the crossbar with 2:40 remaining in the half to keep the score 2-0 entering intermission.

Husson struck first in the second half as Alexandra Laniewski (Scarborough, ME) notched an unassisted tally from the left corner of the penalty box, just inside the far post. Husson nearly made it 4-0 three minutes later, but Davis was able to punch away a crossing pass off from another Clement corner kick. The Eagles attempted eight corner kicks to Castleton's one, and nearly converted on better than half, had it not been from some solid work by Davis.

Castleton broke through for its only goal of the contest in the 62nd minute of play on Chadburn's 24th of the season assisted by Blongy.  The Spartans were set up for an indirect kick, from four-yards out after an Eagle defender made a direct pass back to Husson goalie Jen Plourde (Howland, ME). Plourde scooped it up with her hands for the violation, setting up the indirect kick. Blongy touched it quickly, and Chadburn bent a rocket around the wall and above Plourde for the goal. It was Plourde's only mistake of the afternoon, as she was flawless in all other aspects. With 11:31 remaining, Ledoux made another bid to connect
with Chadburn, but Plourde came out and made a fantastic one-on-one save.

For the game Plourde stopped seven shots on net while the freshman Davis turned away four for Castleton. The contest was yet another dandy, in a rivalry that has grown over the last decade. The Eagles now hold a 6-4-1 advantage over the last nine seasons, including a pair of wins in conference tournament play.

With the win Husson improves to 15-5-0 overall and advances to the 2009 NCAA Division III National Tournament.

2009 NAC Women's Soccer All-Tournament

Maine Maritime Academy:
Kelsi Eiane
Alexis Bennett

University of Maine-Farmington:
Noelle Moulton
Melissa St. Amand

Castleton:
Carisa Chadburn
Courtney Chadburn
Katie Hoxsie

Husson:
Shelby Bradford
Caitlyn Butterfield
Megan Clement
Amy Sanz
Kylan Smith - Most Valuable Player