University of Delaware Athletics
Big Second Half, Two Goals by Onorato Propel Delaware to 3-1 Field Hockey Victory over Monmouth
9/12/2012 8:42:00 PM | Field Hockey
NEWARK, Del. -- University of Delaware senior Nikki Onorato (at right) led a big second half for the Blue Hens and recorded her first career multiple-goal game to key a 3-1 non-league field hockey victory over Monmouth Wednesday night at Rullo Stadium.
Onorato scored two of the Hen's three second half goals just over seven minutes apart as Delaware (2-5) overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit and avenged one of its most disappointing losses of the 2011 season when UD fell to the Hawks in overtime.
Monmouth (0-7) remained winless on the season despite a first half goal by Tara Brown.
“This was the second straight game that we played a great second half,” said Delaware second-year head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. “If we want to get closer to our goals, we have to start putting two halves of equal quality together. We were a step behind in the first half and we knew we had to come out in the second and present ourselves on offense and pressure them on defense and we did that. We are learning that we have to fight if we want to have the opportunity to get better.”
Delaware, which has faced a grueling early-season schedule that has included four Top 20 opponents, improved to 2-3 at home this season. The Hens, who travel to Temple Friday and to No. 2 Princeton on Sunday, will not return home again until Oct. 5 when they host Colonial Athletic Association foe Northeastern.
Monmouth opened the scoring 21 minutes into the contest when Brown took a crossing pass from Michelle Pieczynski and backhanded a shot from 15 yards out past Delaware goalkeeper Sarah Scher (five saves).
But the rest of the game would belong to the Blue Hens. Senior Tory Sharpless got the Hens on the board just five minutes into the second half when she collected a rebound in a crowd and, while falling down, scored past Monmouth keeper Teresa Mathews (seven saves).
Delaware scored what proved to be the game-winner just six minutes later when Onorato tipped in a shot by Toni Popinko following a penalty corner to give UD a 2-1 lead with 24:05 left to play. Thegoal was Onorato's fourth game-winner of her career.
Onorato then capped her big night eight minutes later when she tipped in another shot off a penalty corner, this time off a shot by sophomore Kelsey McKee, for her fourth goal of the year.
