Salisbury sophomore back Tara McGovern, the 2009 CAC Player of the Year, assisted on the only goal of the game for the second-straight day to lead the second-ranked Sea Gulls (20-1) to a 1-0 victory over top-ranked Messiah (22-1) in the 2009 NCAA Division III Field Hockey National Championship Game.

The 15-time CAC champion Sea Gulls won their fourth national championship in the last seven years and defeated the Falcons, who gained a 3-2 overtime decision when the teams met in the regular season Sept. 19.  It's the fifth national title in Salisbury field hockey history.

Salisbury reached the 20-win plateau for the fifth time in the last seven years.

McGovern had the only assist on Alison Bloodworth's second-half goal in Saturday's 1-0 win over Tufts University in the semifinal contest, sending the Sea Gulls to the national championship game for the fourth time in the last seven years.

Sunday against Messiah, McGovern and Michelle Rowe were credited with assists on Caitlin Walker's seventh goal of the season, just 3:33 into the match.  It was McGovern's seventh assist of the season while Rowe has three helpers.

That put the game in the hands of the Salisbury defense, led by goalie Anna Cooke, who registered three saves (all in the first half) on nine Messiah shots.