University of Delaware Athletics
Three-Time Defending CAA Champion Delaware Field Hockey Announces 2016 Slate
6/30/2016 3:27:00 PM | Field Hockey
Rolf van de Kerkhof, finished 16-6 overall and 4-2 in the CAA a year ago, winning the league tournament title for the third consecutive year before dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker in overtime to third-seeded Virginia during the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Delaware, which returns nine starters from last year's squad, opens its season with consecutive home games against Ohio State on Aug. 27 and 28.
The team then hits the road for a four-game stretch against Old Dominion on Sept. 2, Virginia on Sept. 4, Temple on Sept. 9, and Princeton on Sept. 11. The Cavaliers, who ended the season ranked fourth in the NFHCA Poll, will face the Blue Hens in a rematch of the 2015 NCAA Tournament thriller. Princeton will also be a challenging opponent, as the Tigers reached last year's NCAA Tournament quarterfinals before bowing out to eventual national champion Syracuse. Delaware posted an exciting 4-3 victory over the Tigers last year at Rullo Stadium.
Following the four-game road stretch, the Blue Hens return home to face Columbia on Sept. 16 and Indiana on Sept. 18. The Blue Hens then hit the road once more for another three-game stretch against Lafayette on Sept. 25, James Madison on Sept. 30 and William & Mary on Oct. 2 before hosting Michigan on Oct. 8. Delaware opens its CAA schedule against the Dukes, who ended last season ranked 18th in the NFHCA Poll and dropped a 2-1 overtime verdict to the Blue Hens in the CAA Championship Game.
Delaware follows those fixtures with a two-game home stand featuring a conference game against Hofstra on Oct. 9 and a non-league matchup against Penn on Oct. 16. The Blue Hens then travel south for a CAA contest versus Towson on Oct. 21 and a matchup against American on Oct. 23.
UD wraps up its regular season with two home games against conference opposition in Northeastern on Oct. 28 and Drexel on Oct. 30.
The Colonial Athletic Association Tournament semifinals will be played on Nov. 4 with the final occurring on Nov. 6, hosted by the league's regular season champion. Should the Blue Hens advance, the NCAA Tournament first and second rounds will be played on Nov. 12-13.
Delaware will once again be led by senior Esmée Peet, a first team NFHCA All-American a year ago when she ranked third in the CAA with 36 points and fourth with 15 goals, both team-highs. Peet, who also earned second team Synapse Sports All-American honors, was a first team All-CAA selection and was the league tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Also returning for the Blue Hens will be sophomore Greta Nauck, who tied for eighth in the CAA with 11 goals and tied for ninth with 27 points as a freshman, and classmate Lisa Giezeman, who tied for the league lead with four game-winning goals. Both Nauck and Giezeman were named second team All-Region and were selected to the CAA All-Rookie Team. Junior Emmeline Oltmans returns to the Blue Hen goal after posting four shutouts and ranking second in the league with a 2.09 goals against average last season.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
The team then hits the road for a four-game stretch against Old Dominion on Sept. 2, Virginia on Sept. 4, Temple on Sept. 9, and Princeton on Sept. 11. The Cavaliers, who ended the season ranked fourth in the NFHCA Poll, will face the Blue Hens in a rematch of the 2015 NCAA Tournament thriller. Princeton will also be a challenging opponent, as the Tigers reached last year's NCAA Tournament quarterfinals before bowing out to eventual national champion Syracuse. Delaware posted an exciting 4-3 victory over the Tigers last year at Rullo Stadium.
Following the four-game road stretch, the Blue Hens return home to face Columbia on Sept. 16 and Indiana on Sept. 18. The Blue Hens then hit the road once more for another three-game stretch against Lafayette on Sept. 25, James Madison on Sept. 30 and William & Mary on Oct. 2 before hosting Michigan on Oct. 8. Delaware opens its CAA schedule against the Dukes, who ended last season ranked 18th in the NFHCA Poll and dropped a 2-1 overtime verdict to the Blue Hens in the CAA Championship Game.
Delaware follows those fixtures with a two-game home stand featuring a conference game against Hofstra on Oct. 9 and a non-league matchup against Penn on Oct. 16. The Blue Hens then travel south for a CAA contest versus Towson on Oct. 21 and a matchup against American on Oct. 23.
UD wraps up its regular season with two home games against conference opposition in Northeastern on Oct. 28 and Drexel on Oct. 30.
The Colonial Athletic Association Tournament semifinals will be played on Nov. 4 with the final occurring on Nov. 6, hosted by the league's regular season champion. Should the Blue Hens advance, the NCAA Tournament first and second rounds will be played on Nov. 12-13.
Delaware will once again be led by senior Esmée Peet, a first team NFHCA All-American a year ago when she ranked third in the CAA with 36 points and fourth with 15 goals, both team-highs. Peet, who also earned second team Synapse Sports All-American honors, was a first team All-CAA selection and was the league tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Also returning for the Blue Hens will be sophomore Greta Nauck, who tied for eighth in the CAA with 11 goals and tied for ninth with 27 points as a freshman, and classmate Lisa Giezeman, who tied for the league lead with four game-winning goals. Both Nauck and Giezeman were named second team All-Region and were selected to the CAA All-Rookie Team. Junior Emmeline Oltmans returns to the Blue Hen goal after posting four shutouts and ranking second in the league with a 2.09 goals against average last season.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
Players Mentioned
Forward
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Midfielder
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Goalkeeper
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Midfielder
/ Field HockeyField Hockey vs Lafayette
Monday, October 27
Field Hockey vs American
Tuesday, October 21
Field Hockey vs Old Dominion
Tuesday, October 14
Field Hockey vs Ohio State
Tuesday, September 23
