University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Locks in No. 4 Seed with 1-1 Draw With Local Rival Drexel (Oct. 30, 2011)
10/30/2011 2:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. – Collecting one final point in Colonial Athletic Association action, the University of Delaware women's soccer team locked down the No. 4 seed in the conference's tournament after playing Drexel University to a 1-1 draw.
“Every game that we play with Drexel…Everyone one of these games ends up being a battle either here or there,” said UD head coach Scott Grzenda, who is now 12-1-2 all-time against Drexel. “I'm just very happy our girls came out and played well today.”
A sun-splashed Delaware Mini-Stadium served as senior day for the Hens' four seniors who will graduate in May. Grzenda and his staff honored Stacie Dulkis, Amy Pickard, Breanna Stemler and Leigh Victory prior to the game.
Delaware, now 9-6-4 overall and 5-3-3 in the league, played their local rival to a 1-1 draw. Ali Miller scored the Hens' goal, getting a double assist from Pickard and Dianna Marinaro.
Finishing the regular season with 18 points, the Hens snagged the No. 4 seed in the recently expanded six-team tournament. Delaware, which was selected to finish 10th in the CAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, will face Hofstra University on Thursday, Nov. 3 in the second quarterfinal game.
The Dragons (6-8-5, 4-4-3 CAA) saw their season come to an end, needing a win to qualify for the CAA tournament. Drexel got its lone goal of the afternoon from Melissa Chapman, who posted her first marker of the year. Alyssa Findlay sent in the game-tying cross on one of Drexel's eight corner kicks.
The two teams played to a scoreless first half, but in typical Delaware fashion, the Hens found the back of the net in the second half, as Miller put in her 12th goal of the year and the Hens' 22nd second-half goal, striking in the 51st minute.
But Drexel rallied to answer in the 63rd minute as Chapman finished a long corner from Findlay, getting the tally on a header. The Chapman tally snapped a 436-minute scoreless streak for the Dragons against Delaware. Drexel had not scored in a goal against the Hens since 2006 in the program's 2-1 win over Delaware.
Both teams challenged in the overtime periods as Delaware managed four shots in the first set of extra time, followed by another four from Drexel in the second overtime. UD goalkeeper Breanna Stemler made several key stops in the second overtime, including a pair of diving stops, adding to her 11-save effort.
Stemler played all 110 minutes of action in goal for the Hens, bringing her season total to 1,743, which ranks second in program history for goalkeeper minutes in a single season.
This marks the second time this season Stemler has posted an 11-save game, tying her career high set on Oct. 16 against James Madison.
Delaware, which has not qualified for the CAA tournament since 2005, will make the trek to Williamsburg, Va. on Wednesday for the conference's annual banquet, at which time the conference awards will be announced.
The Hens will face Hofstra, who they defeated 3-2 in Newark on Oct. 2. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Martin Family Stadium at Albert/Daly Field on the campus of host institute William & Mary.
Ticket prices for the tournament have been set by the conference at $5 for adults, $3 for youth (ages 2-17) and free for students with a valid ID from a participating institute.
