University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hen Field Hockey Drops Another Heart-Breaker With 4-3 Overtime Setback To Central Michigan
8/31/2012 8:47:00 PM | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Delaware field hockey team dropped its third consecutive overtime game as the Blue Hens fell to Central Michigan, 4-3, Friday afternoon at Phyllis Ocker Field on the campus of the University of Michigan.
Delaware, which fell to Boston University, 4-3 in overtime, last Friday and to Albany, 3-2 in a penalty shootout, on Sunday, dropped to 0-3 despite taking all three of its opponents to extra time this season. The Chippewas improved to 2-1 on the year.
Central Michigan looked to put the game away in regulation when Emily Girasole scored an unassisted goal from the top of the circle to give the Chippewas a 3-1 lead with only 5:54 remaining.
However Delaware would answer right back just 39 seconds later when freshman Michaela Patzner collected a ball in front and lifted a high shot into the cage to bring the Blue Hens within a goal. Central Michigan clung to its lead until UD junior Kasey Prettyman (at right)deflected home a long bouncing shot from classmate Heather Hartman, knotting the contest at 3-3 with just 31 seconds left.
The teams remained tied until 10:37 into the extra session, when the Chippewas' Baily McKeon corralled a loose ball in front and slid a shot past UD goalkeeper Sarah Scher into the bottom right corner of the cage to give Central Michigan the victory.
The game marked the first time in Delaware history that the Blue Hens have played three straight overtime games.
The Chippewas opened the scoring just 30 seconds into the contest when Cayleigh Immelman dribbled toward the cage before passing to Erica Garwood, who tucked the ball into the empty cage. Central Michigan added a second goal 14 minutes later on an unassisted goal by McKeon, taking an early two-goal advantage.
Delaware got on the board at the 16:29 mark of the opening half when freshman Jackie Coveleski fired a long shot from the right circle which was deflected into the cage by Prettyman. The contest marked the first career two-goal game for Prettyman, who now has 11 for her career.
The Chippewas maintained their one-goal lead until Girasole scored with 5:54 remaining to give Central Michigan a 3-1 advantage, before Patzner and Prettyman answered for Delaware to force overtime.
Delaware held a 10-7 shot advantage and an 8-3 edge in penalty corners during the contest. Scher made two saves in the Blue Hen cage, while Chippewas goalkeeper Anastasia Netto stopped four shots for Central Michigan.
The Blue Hens are right back in action on Saturday, when Delaware takes on 10th-ranked Michigan at 2 p.m. at Phyllis Ocker Field.
