Top-seeded Salisbury cruised to a victory, and second-seeded St. Mary's needed a shootout to advance, but the top two teams in the regular season will square off in the 2008 CAC Field Hockey Championship Game Saturday at Salisbury.

Salisbury sophomore Kandice Hancock totaled three goals and one assist as the eighth-ranked Sea Gulls (14-3) defeated fourth-seeded Stevenson (10-10), 7-1.  Salisbury is the 13-time defending conference champion.

In the title battle, the Sea Gulls will host St. Mary's, who outlasted Mary Washington 3-2 in penalty strokes. 

Salisbury won the first meeting of the title contenders with a 1-0 decision at SMC on Sept. 5.

In Wednesday's action, a fierce rainstorm that packed winds gusting to 30 mph and sideways rain on a cool Wednesday evening could not slow down the Sea Gulls, who ran off seven unanswered goals to defeat Stevenson.

Junior All-American Lauren Correll got the Gulls on the scoreboard first, just three minutes into the game, when she finished off a nice pass from junior Beverly Beladino (one goal, two assists).  Hancock led all-scorers with three goals and one assist against the Mustangs. The midfielder assisted the game's second goal as her pass was deflected in by freshman Caitlin Walker. SU led 2-0 at the break.

Hancock scored the game's third goal to start the second half. Salisbury was awarded a penalty stroke, its first of the season, and Hancock beat Stevenson goalie Kara Zimmerman (nine saves) with a high shot to the right corner of the cage. The reigning CAC Rookie of the Year scored the game's final two goals, both unassisted, to close out the scoring for the Gulls.

In the second half, Beladino scored her first goal of the game off an assist from sophomore back Katie Fost in the 46th minute. Five minutes later, Beladino assisted freshman Alison Bloodsworth's goal to give SU a commanding 5-0 lead.

In Wednesday's other semifinal, St. Mary's got on the scoreboard first in the second half as senior midfielder Emily Smithson converted on a stroke at 41:20.  Smithson struck again just 2:11 later during a penalty corner as Emily Norris inserted the ball to sophomore Jackie Ward (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) who sent across to Smithson.  Smithson then took two dribbles before firing in a shot into the lower left corner.

However, the Eagles weren't out of it yet as senior forward Alison Weckstein deflected in a cross from senior forward Amy Santella at 47:12.  Trimble then scored the game-tying goal with 6.4 seconds left in regulation.

The Eagles outshot St. Mary's, 8-3, in overtime but had another goal called back.  Mary Washington ended the game with four goals called back.

SMC goalie Emma Lauhoff finished the game with nine saves, while sophomore Chrissy Bowdren recorded six for UMW.