University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Concludes Regular Season at Drexel and Northeastern
10/29/2015 5:38:00 PM | Field Hockey
NEWARK, Del. – The Blue Hens, currently ranked No. 14 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, wrap up regular season action this weekend by traveling to Drexel (Friday, 7 p.m.) and Northeastern (Sunday, 2 p.m.).
Delaware, which has won two straight and is currently 13-4 overall and 3-1 in CAA action, looks to finish the season on a high note with two league victories.
BROADCAST 🎥
Both games this weekend will be broadcast online with links available here.
· Friday at Drexel
· Sunday at Northeastern
ONLINE
Follow Delaware field hockey online at facebook.com/DelawareFieldHockey and on Twitter at @DelawareFH.
LAST TIME OUT
The No. 15 Blue Hens closed out regular season non-conference action on a beautiful fall afternoon at Fred P. Rullo Stadium last Sunday with a 2-1 victory over No. 12 Old Dominion on Senior Day. Allie Mikelson led off the afternoon with a tip-in goal from Esmée Peet in the second minute of action. The goal was the first of the year for Mikelson. Michaela Patzner added the second and final tally of the day off a penalty stroke in the 23rd minute. The Monarchs (8-8) threatened late as Megan Byas connected on a penalty corner in the 68th minute to bring their deficit to just one with the score at 2-1. Emmeline Oltmans collected five saves in the win.
· The Blue Hens have been ranked in the NFHCA Top 20 in each week since September 8 and are No. 16 in the NCAA Field Hockey RPI.
· Delaware has tied last year's win total with 13 victories, a mark that has been reached for the 18th time in program history and seventh since 2001.
· The Hens are currently ranked fifth nationally with 10.88 points per game, sixth with 3.94 goals per game and seventh with 3.0 assists per game. They are also ninth with a 1.8 scoring margin and 9.0 defensive saves.
· Delaware has outscored opponents, 67-36 on the year.
· Maddie O'Beirne will celebrate her 22nd birthday on Sunday.
· Greta Nauck was named the CAA Rookie of the Week after tallying her first career hat trick in addition to an assist in UD's 9-0 win over Towson.
· Allie Mikelson added to her school record against ODU last week and now holds 16 career defensive saves.
· Michaela Patzner is fourth in program history with 113 career points (43g, 27a). Casey Howard (2005-09) is third all-time with 115 points (51g, 13a).
· Patzner's 27 assists ties her for fourth in the record books with Sara Hills (1996-99) while her 43 goals is good to tie for sixth alongside Melissa Hefner (1993-96). Anne Wilkinson (1982-85) is fifth all-time with 44 goals.
· With an assist against ODU, Esmée Peet now has 84 career points on 35 goals and 14 assists to move into a tie for 12th all-time with Beth Manley (1983-86).
SERIES INFORMATION
· The Blue Hens are 31-26 all-time against this weekend's opponents.
· Delaware is 23-8 overall versus Drexel since the first meeting in 1985. The Blue Hens have won two straight and three of the last five against the Dragons. Last season, Drexel pulled out the 1-0 overtime victory over the Hens at Fred P. Rullo Stadium on Nov. 2. In 2013, No. 19 UD defeated Drexel, 4-0, to clinch the CAA regular season title in Philadelphia.
· Dating to the 1991 season, Delaware is 8-18 all-time against Northeastern. The Hens have won three straight versus the Huskies, including a 3-2 victory over No. 18 NU last season at Rullo Stadium. UD defeated the Huskies twice in 2013, once to claim the CAA Tournament crown in Newark and earlier in the year on the road in regular season play.
· Denise Zelenak (West Chester '91) is in her 21st season with the Dragons and has recorded 220 wins since taking over the team in 1995.
· NFHCA Hall of Famer Cheryl Murtagh (New Hampshire '81) is in her 28th season serving as the head coach of the Northeastern field hockey program and 30th overall as a head coach. Murtagh is 372-218-22 (.626) all-time at NU and has guided the Huskies to 16 overall NCAA Tournament appearances.
ABOUT DREXEL
The Dragons are currently 6-10 overall and 2-2 in CAA action and have dropped two straight, including a 3-2 overtime decision at Hofstra. Drexel is 0-5 on the year against ranked opponents and have been outscored, 24-1, in those contests. Heading into the final weekend of play, junior Idrienne Walker leads the team with 12 points on six goals. Junior Jessica McCarthy and freshman Megan Wiest are tied for second on the team with 10 points each on four goals and two assists. Freshman Erin Gilchrist (4-3) has posted a 2.56 GAA with 14 appearances and six starts between the pipes for Drexel.
ABOUT NORTHEASTERN
The Huskies are currently 4-12 overall and 1-3 in the CAA and have dropped three straight and six of the last seven. Northeastern will travel to Towson for a Friday matchup before hosting the Hens Sunday. Natalie Stewart guides NU with 14 points on a team-best five goals and four assists. Kristin Abreu has added 11 points (4g, 3a) while June Curry-Lindahl has posted three goals and four assists for 10 points. Becky Garner has started all 16 matches in the cage and has allowed 2.70 goals per game with a .719 save percentage.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Maggie Hayon | mhayon@udel.edu | O: 302-831-6389 | C: 920-912-6635
