University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Field Hockey Drops Another Overtime Thriller, Falls to #19 Albany 3-2 in Shootout
8/26/2012 8:50:00 PM | Field Hockey
NEWARK, Del. -- For the second time in three days, the young University of Delaware field hockey squad suffered a heart-breaking setback to a top-ranked opponent in overtime.
The Blue Hens (0-2), who fell to No. 14 ranked Boston University by a 4-3 score in overtime in the season opener Friday night, took another Top 20 team to the wire Sunday afternoon before falling to No. 19 ranked Albany 3-2 in a shootout at Rullo Stadium.
Delaware, which has 11 first-year players on the roster, had taken a 2-0 lead in the first 12 minutes of the game, but Albany (1-1) rallied back to tie it up early in the second half to send the game into overtime.
After two scoreless 15-minute overtime sessions, the game went to a shootout to decide the winner. Albany scored on each of its three attempts in the shootout session and stopped the Blue Hens on all three of their attempts to win the period 3-0 in the best of five format.
The Blue Hens are off to an 0-2 start for the first time since 2009 but it could be a good omen. Delaware also fell to two top 20 opponents to open that season but recovered and eventually captured the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament to cap one of the most successful years in school history.
Freshman Jackie Coveleski (top right), the 2011 Delaware Player of the Year at Cape Henlopen High School, gave the Hens a quick 1-0 lead as she tallied her first career goal off a feed from Clare O'Malley just eight minutes and 20 seconds into the game. Delaware then made it 2-0 when sophomore defender Kelsey McKee, a pre-season All-CAA selection, converted a penalty stroke just over three minutes later.
But Albany rallied back as Jessica Longstreth scored a goal off a rebound just two minutes later to cut the UD lead to 2-1 at halftime and the Great Danes tied the game at 2-2 when Liza Morgan scored an unassisted goal from a few feet out just 46 seconds into the second stanza.
Neither team could score the remaining 34 minutes of the half and both were held off the scoreboard during the two 15-minute overtime periods. The 2-2 tie brought about a shootout session to decide the winner with each team receiving attempts from five different players going one-on-one against the opposing goalkeeper.
Delaware's Rebecca Pepper was stopped by goalkeeper Kristi Troch on the first attempt of the shootout but Albany got a goal from Longstreth on its first try. Delaware's Michaela Patzner shot wide on her attempt followed by Albany's Corrinne McConville scoring past Delaware goalkeeper Sarah Scher (at left/career-high 15 saves) in the second round. Albany clinched the win in the third round as Troch saved a shot by Delaware's O'Malley and the Great Dane's Nina Walters scored on her attempt.
The Blue Hens will continue action next weekend in Michigan as Delaware takes on Central Michigan on Aug. 31 and Michigan on Sept. 1. Both games are being played on th University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor.
AGATE:
Albany.......1.....1.....0.....0.....1.....3
Delaware...2.....0.....0.....0.....0.....2
Scoring Summary:
1st Half: Delaware - Jackie Coveleski (Clare O'Malley), 8:20 into game; Delaware - Kelsey McKee (penalty stroke), 11:26; Albany - Jessica Longstreth (unassisted), 13:33; 2nd Half: Albany - Liza Morgan (unassisted), 35:46; Shootout: Albany wins 3-0.
Shots: Albany - 32, Delaware - 13; Saves: Albany - 4 (Kristi Troch), Delaware - 15 (Sarah Scher); Corners: Albany - 11, D - 4; Attendance: 262.
