BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS! Delaware Field Hockey Clinches Second Straight CAA Title

Sunday, November 9

Boston, Mass.

1:00 PM

University of Delaware

(13-8)

James Madison

(12-8)

James Madison

Delaware

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS! Delaware Field Hockey Clinches Second Straight CAA Title

11/9/2014 5:06:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Delaware Athletics

DEDHAM, Mass. – The University of Delaware field hockey team will return to the NCAA postseason in back-to-back seasons as the Blue Hens clinched their second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association Championship with a 2-1 victory over James Madison at Northeastern's Dedham Field Sunday afternoon.

The title is Delaware's fourth since joining the league in 2002. The Hens also became the first conference team to win CAA trophies in consecutive seasons since former league member Old Dominion accomplished the feat from 2010-11.

UD (13-8) earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will learn its pairing at 10 p.m. this evening as a part of the NCAA Selection Show, which will be shown on NCAA.com/liveschedule.

The second-seeded Hens took a 1-0 advantage early over the fourth-seeded Dukes as sophomore Esmée Peet (Zeewolde, The Netherlands/RSG Slingerbos) notched her 11^th goal of the season in the 15^th minute off a penalty corner.

James Madison (13-8) equalized the game at 1-1 off a goal from Loes Stijntjes in the 23^rd minute as the two teams went back and forth throughout the first half.

Delaware's Michaela Patzner (Rosenheim, Germany/Karolinen Gymnasium) struck early in the second half with what held as the game-winning goal in the 39^th minute. The junior collected a deflected pass near the front right side of the NU net and chipped in the unassisted goal.

Freshman goalkeeper Emmeline Oltmans (Baarn, The Netherlands/Het Baarnsch Lyceum) collected three saves on the day for her 10^th win of the season.

Jacki Coveleski (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) and Janell Holmes (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg Christian) on the All-Tournament Team.

Rolf van de Kerkhof
“This was a true conference championship game. Two great teams competing and it could have gone either way. We played great defense in the second half, which was truly the difference maker. I'm excited for our team, as they've grown every game along the way. It's a great day to be a Blue Hen!”

Junior Allie Mikelson
“We knew they [JMU] were going to come out strong. I think our team defense really pulled it out today. I'm proud of everyone for their clock management and playing patiently. We did exactly what we needed to do to get it done.”

Sophomore Esmée Peet
“Every championship is a different championship. This year is a different team than last year and a different kind of energy. Our energy was really good and today we played as a team. This feels awesome, it is really the best feeling to come home as a winner.”

HEN SCRATCHINGS
     · The Hens and Dukes held things close statistically throughout the game as UD outshot JMU, 9-8 and owned a 4-3 advantage in penalty corners.
     · Delaware has won three straight against the Dukes.
     · UD is now 10-5 all-time in the CAA Tournament.
     · The Hens have reached the 13-win mark for the 17^th time in program history and sixth since 2001.
     · Michaela Patzner added two more points to her career total as the junior now leads the team with 33 points on 12 goals and a team-best nine assists. She has now moved into 10^th place all-time in the Delaware career record books with 90 points (35g, 20a) to bypass Juli Byrd's (1998-01) 89 points (39g, 11a).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
· NCAA Tournament – TBA