THREE-PEAT! Delaware Captures Third Straight CAA Title in OT Thriller

Sunday, November 8

Harrisonburg, Va.

2:00 PM

University of Delaware

(16-5)

James Madison

(15-6)

OT 2

Delaware

James Madison

THREE-PEAT! Delaware Captures Third Straight CAA Title in OT Thriller

11/8/2015 5:54:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Delaware Athletics

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Freshman Lisa Giezeman (below left; Leidschendam, The Netherlands/Sin-Maartenscollege) scored the game-winning goal with 8:59 left in overtime as second-seeded Delaware captured its third straight CAA Field Hockey Championship, defeating top seed and tournament host James Madison, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.

The current No. 15 Blue Hens, who obtain their fifth overall CAA title, are the first league team to win three straight titles since James Madison did so from 2006-08. Ironically, UD defeated JMU by the same score in last year's title contest.

For the third straight year, Delaware (16-5) claims the CAA's automatic berth into the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Tournament and finds out its future destination and opponent during the selection show tonight on NCAA.com at 10:00 p.m.

Giezeman, a member of the All-CAA Rookie Team, also added an assist in the win, while junior Esmée Peet (below right; Zeewolde, The Netherlands/RSG Slingerbos) accounted for the other UD score. Peet, a three-time All-CAA First Team member, was tabbed Tournament Most Outstanding Performer.

Senior Allie Mikelson (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) and junior Maura Zarkoski (Eagleville, Pa./Villa Maria) were also named to the CAA All-Tournament Team alongside Giezeman.

It was a back-and-forth affair in the first half, despite UD outshooting the hosts, 8-1. Peet put the Blue Hens on the board with just over five minutes left before halftime to take the 1-0 lead into the break.

The No. 16 Dukes (15-6) battled continuously throughout and tied the contest in the 47^th minute after sophomore Hannah Hall poked in a rebound shot.

The drama grew as time winded down in regulation and eventually continued into overtime before Giezeman notched the 11^th goal of her rookie campaign.

Sophomore goalie Emmeline Oltmans (Baarn, The Netherlands/Het Baarnsch Lyceum) finished the game with three saves in the victory.

Sara Kraeutler collected 11 saves for the Dukes while CAA Player of the Year Taylor West notched two defensive saves.

Rolf van de Kerkhof
“I am so proud of my team, my staff and so happy for our program and university. Today was a great showing of exciting and action-filled field hockey between the top two teams in the CAA. Congrats are in place for the Dukes for the season that they put together and for JMU being a first class host of the CAA Championships.”

“This player-group has enjoyed an amazing journey of playing and learning all throughout our 2015 season thus far. We have grown together, helped each other become better players and ultimately, we have become the team we are today. Our experiences allowed us to be well prepared for the CAA Semifinals and Championship game this weekend. Especially considering that our bus broke down before the game and we needed to rely on taxis and JMU vans to get us from the hotel to the field.”

“For UDFH to win the CAA's three years in a row is a true tribute to all the hard work of many people committed to representing themselves and part of our program and taking pride in being ambassadors of the University of Delaware. I would like to sincerely thank our Blue Hen field hockey student-athletes, coaches, support staff, academic and athletic colleagues, our players parents and families and of course our fan base for supporting this team unconditionally. The best part of winning the CAA Championships today is that UDFH will continue their 2015 season with NCAA tournament play. A great day to be a Blue Hen!”

Jacki Coveleski (below right alongside fellow captains Allie Mikelson and Marjelle Scheffers)
“JMU was an extremely tough opponent and we knew we were going to have to come out strong. Everyone did their part today and I'm proud of every single m

ember of this team. Each CAA Championship has been different. This year it was expected of us, but we still needed to put the hard work it, it wasn't going to be handed to us. We hold ourselves to the highest standard as a team and we have to keep working hard to continue to reach our goals this season.”

Senior Tri-Captain Allie Mikelson
“Every championship is unique it its own right. I couldn't be more proud of this team and the steps that we've taken to get here. This was a true team effort and now we've put ourselves in a position to reach our next goal.”

HEN SCRATCHINGS
     · Delaware has clinched the CAA title in 2004, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
     · The Blue Hens are 12-5 all-time in CAA Tournament history and have the best winning percentage (.709) amongst active league teams.
     · The last eight meetings between the Hens and Dukes have all been decided by one goal with the series split at 4-4.
     · Delaware outshot JMU, 17-9, and held a 9-4 advantage in penalty corners.
     · The Blue Hens have reached the 16-win mark for the fifth time in program history and second time in three years.
     · Esmée Peet is 11^th in program history with 92 points (38g, 16a). Her 38 goals are good for 10^th all-time while her 16 assists place her in a tie for 16^th in the record books.