Women's Hockey | 3/13/2011 12:08:00 PM

The RIT women's hockey team (25-1-2) will host the 2011 NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship with the semifinals on Friday, March 18, and championship/third place games on Saturday, March 19 at Ritter Arena. Gustavus Adolphus (22-3-3) will face Norwich (23-4-1) in the first semifinal at 3:30 p.m, while RIT will host Middlebury (22-4-1) in the second semifinal at 7 p.m. The third place game will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the championship getting underway at 7 p.m.RIT advanced after defeating Adrian, 10-1 in first round action on Saturday. Middlebury knocked off Manhattanville, 1-0, also on Saturday, while Gustavus Adolphus defeated Wisconsin-River Falls, 4-1, on Friday. Norwich received a bye.RIT, in its second trip to the NCAA Tournament (2007), set numerous NCAA Tournament single-game records in a 10-1 win over Adrian on Saturday. The 10 goals and nine-goal margin of victory set NCAA Championship game records. ## set a NCAA Tournament single-game record with six points (3-3-6), while ## scored a natural hat-trick in a 3:58 span in the second period, becoming RIT's all-time leading goal scorer the process with 81 tallies.Senior forward ##, the 2011 ECAC West Player of the Year, tied the RIT career record for points, with 153 (63-90-153). She is second nationally this season with 41 points (18-23-41) and leads Division III with four shorthanded goals. Sophomore ## leads the nation with 30 assists. Kunichika is second among all first-year players and tied with Stack for fifth nationally with 39 points.First year goaltender ##, who made 33 saves in the win over Adrian, leads the nation with a 0.91 goals against average, .953 save percentage, and .900 winning percentage. RIT has allowed just 24 goals in 28 games this season, and is outscoring their opponents, 145-24. RIT is the highest scoring team in the nation, averaging 5.18 goals per game, and have the best defense nationally, allowing just 0.86 goals per game.Middlebury is making its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance (sixth in the frozen four), having previously qualified from 2002-09. The Panthers have won more tournament games (13-5) and have a higher winning percentage (.722) than any other team in NCAA Tournament history. Middlebury won three straight titles from 2004-06.The Panthers earned their way into the tournament with an automatic bid after capturing their sixth NESCAC Championship. Last weekend, Maggie Woodward scored with 6:01 left in regulation, while goaltender Alexi Bloom made 20 saves in a 1-0 first round victory over Manhattanville. Middlebury's offense has been well-balanced this season, with a dozen players tallying 10 or more points and six with at least 20 points. Sophomore Lauren Greer leads the team in points with 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. In goal, Bloom has been stellar, ranking in the top five nationally in every category. Bloom leads the nation with 11 shutouts, ranks second with a .950 save percentage, and is third with a 1.02 goals against average. She is also fourth in winning percentage (.848).Norwich, the 2010 National Runner up, is making its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, but has not played since the ECAC East Championship, a 4-2 loss to Manhattanville on March 6. The Cadets received a bye into the semifinals. Norwich won the ECAC East regular season titleThe Cadets are the second highest scoring team in the nation, right behind RIT. Senior Sophie Leclerc leads the nation with 48 points on 24 goals and 24 assists, while junior Julie Fortier is third nationally with 40 points on 20 goals and 20 assists. Norwich has five players with at least 30 points and 16 in double figures. In goal, Cindy Fortin is 16-2-0 with a 1.61 goals against average, and .909 save percentage.Gustavus Adolphus, the 2010 NCAA National Championship host, is making its seventh straight NCAA Appearance and ninth in 10 seasons. They have advanced to the national semifinal weekend for the fifth time in program history. The Gusties have won at least 22 games in eight straight seasons and are 222-46-18 over the last 10 seasons. Gustavus Adolphus won the MIAC Championship and defeated Wisconsin-River Falls, 4-1 in a NCAA first round game on March 11. Jenna Christensen tallied four points on two goals and two assists for the Gusties.The Gusties have allowed just 27 goals in 28 games this season, second fewest nationally behind RIT. In goal, junior Danielle Justice is 18-3-3 with a 1.00 goals against average, and .943 save percentage. She is second nationally in goals against average, and fourth in save percentage. Offensively, Lindsey Hjelm leads the way with 29 points on 11 goals and 18 assists. Allie Schwab leads the Gusties with 14 goals, wile Amanda Cartony is right behind with 13.RIT is 2-11 all-time Middlebury, but did win the last meeting between the two squads, 4-2 at Ritter Arena on Feb. 8, 2009. The Tigers defeated Norwich in the only meeting between the two schools, 3-1 in the 2010-11 season opening game on Oct. 29. RIT has never faced Gustavus Adolphus. Norwich defeated Middlebury, 3-2, on Feb. 15.Tickets go on sale Tuesday at the Gordon Field House box office at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased in person, by phone (585) 475-4121, or at ticketmaster com. Single-day (Friday or Saturday) ticket prices are $12 for adults, $6 for students, and $3 for children under 12. Weekend passes (all four games) are $18 for adults, $8 for students, and $5 for children under 12.