UD Explodes for 8-1 Win Over Hofstra; Advances to CAA Championship for Third Straight Season

Friday, November 6

Harrisonburg, Va.

5:45 PM

University of Delaware

(15-5)

Hofstra

(14-6)

Hofstra

Delaware

UD Explodes for 8-1 Win Over Hofstra; Advances to CAA Championship for Third Straight Season

11/6/2015 9:30:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Delaware Athletics

Boxscore (.html) | Boxscore (.pdf)

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Once the offense got rolling Friday evening, the Blue Hens could not be stopped as No. 15 Delaware, the two-time defending champions, erupted for an 8-1 win over Hofstra in the CAA semifinals, hosted by James Madison University.

With the win, the second-seeded Hens advance to the league's championship match for the third consecutive season. Delaware (15-5, 4-2 CAA) will face off against the top-seeded and No. 16 Dukes (14-5, 6-0 CAA) Sunday at 2 p.m. for the second straight year.

Junior Esmée Peet (at left; Zeewolde, The Netherlands/RSG Slingerbos) led all scorers with five points on two goals and an assist while classmate Meghan Winesett (Centreville, Va./Westfield) added two goals of her own.

Sophomore Kayla Devlin (below right; Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) and freshman Kiki Bink (Wageningen, The Netherlands/RSG Slingerbos) combined for five assists, all of which came on penalty corner goals.

In total, nine Blue Hens tallied at least one point in the victory.

Sophomore goalie Emmeline Oltmans (Baarn, The Netherlands/Het Baarnsch Lyceum) notched three saves for Delaware while senior Janell Holmes (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg Christian) collected her fourth career defensive save.

Stella Schoen posted Hofstra's lone goal of the evening as the Pride finish their season at 14-6 overall. Lauren Saltus and Carys Swan split time in the cage, each allowing four goals and combining for seven total saves.

Rolf van de Kerkhof
“Hofstra has a lot of speed up front. We knew that and prepared the entire week for this game. We were fortunate to shut them down early. We took care of business, executed our game plan and were fortunate that Hofstra didn't have enough left to come at us again.”

Junior Team Captain Marjelle Scheffers
“We've been working towards a goal since the spring and it feels great to continue on that path. It's never a normal, common or typical situation [to reach the CAA Finals] and every year you have to work towards that goal once again. We have to prepare for Sunday like we prepared for today – play Delaware field hockey and give it our all.”

Junior Meghan Winesett
“We've worked really hard for this. It's awesome to be back, especially for a third time. We feel like we have a lot of postseason experience, but we know that JMU is a hard team to beat. We have to keep a level head going in to Sunday's game.”

HEN SCRATCHINGS
     · The Blue Hens have reached the 15-win mark for the seventh time in program history and second time in three years.
     · Delaware is 11-5 all-time in CAA Tournament history and 6-2 in CAA semifinals games.
     · The Hens have the best winning percentage (.688) in the CAA Tournament amongst all active league schools.
     · UD's eight goals were the most in a CAA Tournament game since Old Dominion defeated James Madison, 14-1, in semifinals action on Nov. 9, 2002.
     · The seven-goal margin of victory was also the most since Old Dominion defeated Northeastern, 7-0, in semifinals play on Nov. 4, 2006.
     · The Blue Hens also set new CAA Tournament program records with most goals scored and largest margin of victory while tying the records for most assists and most shots on goal.
     · Delaware has won four of its last five games and outscored its opponents, 24-8, during that span. For the season, the Hens have outscored its opponents, 80-42.
     · Esmée Peet (most points) and Kayla Devlin (most assists) also set new individual CAA Tournament program records.
     · Esmée Peet is now 11^th in program history with 90 points (37g, 16a). Her 37 goals are good for 10^th all-time while her 16 assists place her in a tie for 16^th in the record books.
     · With a goal against the Pride, Michaela Patzner (at left) now has 120 points (46g, 28a). Sharon Wilkie (1979-82) is second all-time with 123 points (59g, 5a). Patzner's 46 goals move her into a tie for fourth in program history with Carol Miller (1978-81).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
     · Sunday, November 8 – #2 Delaware vs. #1 James Madison – CAA Final – 2 p.m. – JMU Field Hockey Complex (Harrisonburg, Va.)
     · Sunday, November 8 – NCAA Tournament Selection Show – 10 p.m. – NCAA.org
     · NCAA Tournament Information TBA

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Maggie Hayon | mhayon@udel.edu | O: 302-831-6389 | C: 920-912-6635