No. 9 Delaware Knocks Off No. 24 Ohio State, 3-2

Friday, August 24

Columbus, Ohio

4:00 PM

University of Delaware

(1-0)

Ohio State

(0-1)

Delaware

Ohio State

Photo by: Miles McQuinn/Ohio State Athletics

8/24/2018 6:23:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Freshman Pia Freudenberger's first career goal came at the right time as the rookie tallied the game-winner in Friday's 3-2 season-opening victory at No. 24 Ohio State.

Tied at 2-2 with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, the forward collected the deflection from senior Greta Nauck in front of the cage to bring home the win for the No. 9 Blue Hens.

Freudenberger added an assist to lead the Hens (1-0) with three points on the day.

Seniors Michaela Scanlon and Lisa Giezeman posted back-to-back goals for Delaware to kick off the 2018 campaign.

Fellow senior Sydney Rhodes collected three saves in 70 minutes of action.

Whitney Harris and Esther Clotet each recorded goals for the Buckeyes (0-1) while Aaliyah Hernandez and Ellen Westfall split time in the cage and combined for five saves.

Head Coach Rolf van de Kerkhof
"It's a great feeling to kick off a new season with a win. This players group continues to become a better team as shown through some beautiful moments of generating attacks in numbers as well as playing true team defense. This team can become really good and is excited to continue its learning and development in the days and weeks to come in both the practice and game setting. I would like to thank our returning players for the great job they have done with the transition of our newcomers all throughout preseason. It is also important to share with them that we are excited for their displayed performance in recent weeks and again today against a hard-working Ohio State team that never quits."

HEN SCRATCHINGS
   ·   The Blue Hens have now won four straight season openers.
   ·   Delaware is 5-2 all-time against Ohio State, including a 2-0 mark in Columbus, and have won three consecutive against the Buckeyes.
   ·   Emily Kresho, Grace Miller, Bo van Hunnik and Tessa Verweijen all made their first career starts for UD.
   ·   Greta Nauck tallied two assists versus OSU.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
   ·   Sunday, August 26 – No. 9 Delaware at Miami (Ohio) – 11:30 a.m. – Miami Field Hockey Complex (Oxford, Ohio)
   ·   Friday, August 31 – No. 18 Saint Joseph's at No. 9 Delaware – 6 p.m. – Fred P. Rullo Stadium (Newark, Del.)
   ·   Monday, September 3 – No. 8 Louisville at No. 9 Delaware – 1 p.m. – Fred P. Rullo Stadium (Newark, Del.)

MEDIA CONTACT: Maggie Hayon, Assistant Athletics Communications Director | mhayon@udel.edu | O: 302-831-6389 | C: 302-379-9182