University of Delaware Athletics
Field Hockey Announces 2018 Schedule
5/29/2018 12:12:00 PM | Field Hockey
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware field hockey team will play a balanced, but challenging, schedule this coming season as the Blue Hens announced their 2018 opponents Tuesday afternoon.
This year's slate includes nine home games to be held at Fred P. Rullo Stadium and features nine matchups against squads that ended their season ranked in the NFHCA Coaches Top 25 and six contests versus 2017 NCAA Tournament participants.
“Our players group is always up for a challenge. We look back on the strong growth of their understanding, abilities and preparation this past spring, which will allow them to be confident facing a very competitive 2018 game schedule,” remarked head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof, who will be in his eighth season along the sidelines at Delaware. “With our non-conference schedule, we will learn more about ourselves, improve our team performance, and secure the top player rotations so that we are at our best to compete for a CAA Championship, and if all goes according to plan represent the University of Delaware in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.”
Delaware, which returns six starters from a season ago, opens the year with a trip to the Buckeye State with contests against Ohio State (Aug. 24) and first-time opponent Miami of Ohio (Aug. 26), who won the MAC last season.
The team kicks off home action Aug. 31 against Atlantic 10 Champion Saint Joseph's before hosting Louisville on Sept. 3.
The Hens then travel to College Park, Md. to take on 2017 National Finalist Maryland (Sept. 8) and American (Sept. 9).
Delaware returns to Newark to host Richmond (Sept. 14) before two matchups on the road versus perennial foe Princeton (Sept. 16) and Albany (Sept. 23).
The first Colonial Athletic Association contest of the year pits the Hens against Drexel (Sept. 28) before UD faces Rutgers (Sept. 30).
Conference play continues on Oct. 5 in Harrisonburg, Va. as Delaware takes on James Madison.
UD returns home for four of its final six contests to face Virginia (Oct. 12) and Penn (Oct. 14) to wrap non-conference action before taking on CAA opponents Northeastern (Oct. 26) and Hofstra (Oct. 28) on Homecoming weekend to conclude regular season play.
The Blue Hens will head to Towson (Oct. 19) and William & Mary (Oct. 21) in a re-match of last season's CAA Championship.
Delaware will vie for its sixth straight conference tournament title as the CAA Tournament semifinals will be played on Nov. 2 with the final occurring on Nov. 4, hosted by the league's regular season champion. NCAA Tournament first and second rounds will be played Nov. 10-11 at host schools with the NCAA Final Four starting Nov. 16 and the Championship match set for Nov. 18 at Louisville.
MEDIA CONTACT: Maggie Hayon, Assistant Athletics Communications Director | mhayon@udel.edu | O: 302-831-6389 | C: 302-379-9182
Field 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
