University of Delaware Athletics
No. 2 Princeton Overpowers Delaware 10-2 to Snap Blue Hens' Win Streak
9/16/2012 8:38:00 PM | Field Hockey
PRINCETON, N.J. -- No. 2 ranked Princeton scored three times in the first seven minutes of the game and took a 7-1 halftime advantage en route to a 10-2 non-league field hockey victory over the University of Delaware Sunday afternoon.
Delaware (3-6), coming off a 4-3 win over Temple Friday, had a two-game winning streak snapped while the host Tigers improved to 6-0 on the season with wins over perennial national powers Duke, Wake Forest, and Penn State.
The Blue Hens, who have now scored two or more goals in seven of their first nine games this season, got goals from sophomore Kelsey McKee and freshman Michaela Patzner (at right) while McKee, Carley Hecht, and Heather Hartman also dished out assists. Despite the setback, Delaware matched the Tigers with six penalty corners each and the Hens' two goals tied for the most scored against the Tigers this season.
Kathleen Sharkey led Princeton with three goals and two assists while Michelle Cesan added two goals and two assists, Katie Reinprecht scored twice and dished out an assist, and Teresa Benvenuti added a goal and two assists. Princeton held a 24-11 advantage in shots.
Blue Hen goalkeepers, starter Sarah Scher and backup Megan Simons, shared duties in the cage with each collecting two saves.
Sharkey scored two goals in the first 6:21 of the game, including the first tally just over two minutes into the contest, and Cesan added another as the Tigers got all the goals they would need early. Sharkey and Reinprecht each added two more goals in the first half to stake Princeton to the 7-1 lead.
Delaware scored its first goal of the game with 8:36 left in the opening half as McKee scored her fourth goal of the season on a penalty corner after feeds from Hecht and Hartman. Princeton upped its lead to 8-1 early in the second half before the Hens tallied again as Patzner scored her team-high fifth goal of the season off an assist from McKee with 21:38 left to play.
The Hens will return to action this Saturday, Sept. 22 when they head to Appalachian State for a 1 p.m. contest in Boone, N.C. Delaware downed the Mountaineers 2-1 last year at Rullo Stadium.
