University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Welcome No. 18 Northeastern and Hofstra in Crucial CAA Field Hockey Matchups This Weekend
10/23/2014 2:43:00 PM | Field Hockey
NEWARK, Del. – This coming weekend may determine the fate of postseason play for the University of Delaware field hockey team as the Blue Hens host No. 18 Northeastern (7 p.m. Friday) and Hofstra (1 p.m. Sunday) at Rullo Stadium.
Friday's matchup features the lone remaining undefeated teams in Colonial Athletic Association action in UD at 3-0 and NU at 2-0.
With two wins this weekend, Delaware, the reigning CAA Champions, would clinch a spot in the CAA Tournament for the fourth straight season.
ADMISSION
Admission is free and open to the public for all home Delaware field hockey games held at Fred P. Rullo Stadium.
SUNDAY PINK GAME
The Blue Hens will recognize breast cancer awareness Sunday during their game against Hofstra by wearing pink socks while the coaching and support staffs will wear pink ribbons. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game in support of those who are or have been affected by breast cancer.
LIVE STATS
Live stats for both games will be available through www.BlueHens.com.
SUNDAY LIVE BROADCAST
Fans unable to make it to the game in person can watch Sunday's game against Hofstra online, for free, via Hens All-Access on www.BlueHens.com. Full rebroadcasts of the game will be available on Delaware's YouTube page (UDBlueHens) within 24 hours of completion of the contest.
ONLINE
Follow Delaware field hockey online at facebook.com/DelawareFieldHockey and on Twitter at @DelawareFH.
Jacki Coveleski (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) is the younger sister of NU redshirt senior Kaci Coveleski. The Coveleskis attended high school and played field hockey alongside Northeastern senior Caroline Judge at Cape. Furthermore, Delaware junior Allie Mikelson and freshman Krissy Mikelson were high school teammates of NU sophomore Jessica Unger at Emmaus High School in Pennsylvania.
· Sunday's matchup between the Hens and Pride will also feature a reunion as Delaware sophomore Meghan Winesett played high school field hockey with Hofstra redshirt freshman Lauren Saltus at Westfield High School in Centreville, Va.
· Eight of the Blue Hens' 15 games have been won or lost by just one goal. UD is 6-2 in one goal games this season.
· Sophomore Esmée Peet (Zeewolde, The Netherlands/RSG Slingerbos) leads Delaware with 22 points on a team-best nine goals and four assists.
· Junior Allie Mikelson (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) is currently ranked first nationally with nine defensive saves, the most in school history.
· As a team, the Blue Hens are tied for first in the NCAA with 11 defensive saves through 15 games played, the most since 2000 when UD recorded 12 in 20 games.
· Junior Michaela Patzner (Rosenheim, Germany/Karolinen Gymnasium) is second on the team with 19 points on six goals and seven assists. She continues to climb in the Blue Hens record books and has 76 career points (29g, 18a), which is good for 13th in UD history. Jodi Byrd (1995-98) is 12th in the program record books with 79 career points on 35 goals and nine assists.
· Freshman Emmeline Oltmans (Baarn, The Netherlands/Het Baarnsch Lyceum) has seen action in 852 minutes this season and tallied 51 saves (.646) with 2.30 goals allowed per game.
Rolf van de Kerkhofis in his fourth season at the helm of the Blue Hens. Van de Kerkhof, the 2013 NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year and CAA Co-Coach of the Year, is 43-34 (.558) at Delaware.
· NFHCA Hall of Famer Cheryl Murtagh (New Hampshire '81) is in her 27th season serving as the head coach of the Northeastern field hockey program and 29th overall as a head coach. Murtagh is 366-206-10 (.629) all-time at NU and has guided the Huskies to three straight CAA Championship games with 16 overall NCAA Tournament appearances.
· Kathy De Angelis (Massachusetts '92) is in her 17th year as head field hockey coach at Hofstra and has compiled a 163-167 (.494) record during her tenure.
ABOUT NO. 18 NORTHEASTERN
After opening the season 0-2, the No. 18 Huskies rallied for 11 straight victories before falling to Maine, 2-1, in an overtime thriller last Sunday. NU has also kicked off CAA play with a 2-0 record, which is the team's best start in the conference since 2005. Sophomore Emma Lamison guides the Huskies with 21 points (8g, 5a) while classmate Natalie Stewart has recorded a team-best seven assists in addition to six goals for 19 points. Becky Garner, also a sophomore, has started all 14 games in the cage for NU and has posted 60 saves at a clip of .714 while allowing 1.68 goals per game.
ABOUT HOFSTRA
The Pride has won three straight contests to move to 10-5 on the year and 1-1 in the CAA. Most recently, Hofstra defeated Rider, 6-3, last Sunday as sophomores Stella Schoen and Claudia Marin Samper combined for three goals and two assists. For her efforts, Schoen was named the CAA Player of the Week. Marin-Samper leads the conference with 31 points (2.07/game) on 12 goals and seven assists while senior Jonel Boileau is third in the conference with 27 points (11g, 5a). Defensively, freshman Carys Swan has started 13 games as the Pride goalie. Swan has recorded 60 saves (.659) and allows 2.31 goals per game.
