University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mark Campbell
Delaware Draws Host Virginia in First Round of NCAA Tournament Action
11/10/2019 11:07:00 PM | Field Hockey
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of Delaware field hockey squad learned its fate in the NCAA Tournament late Sunday evening as it was announced that the No. 11 Blue Hens will travel to Charlottesville, Va. to face No. 3 Virginia in the first round of the postseason tournament.
"I'm very excited for our program to return to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in our past seven seasons," remarked Delaware head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "We are looking forward to another opportunity to represent the University of Delaware. This is a great Top 10 match up, and one that will provide high level competition and lots of action for the field hockey fan. Our players group has proven to be a good team this season. They found ways to win close games, won the CAA Regular Season and Tournament and the experience of our games this season has allowed excellent learning as the Blue Hens prepare for the Cavaliers in Charlottesville this Friday."
No. 2 Maryland (16-3) and No. 13 Saint Joseph's (17-3) will join Delaware and Virginia in first and second round competition at UVA's Turf Field. The Hens (16-3) and Cavs (15-3) will face off at noon on Friday while the Terps and Hawks will match up at approximately 2:30. The advancing teams will face one another on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Blue Hens captured their eighth Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title in a 2-1 victory over Northeastern on Sunday afternoon. Virginia collected an at-large bid after falling to No. 9 Boston College, 1-0, in overtime in Friday's ACC Semifinals contest.
Delaware has been led offensively this season by Femke Strien, who leads the CAA with 17 goals. However, it was Lotte de Koning who shined in the CAA Tournament by scoring five goals in two games to be named the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Performer. Sydney Rhodes enters the NCAA Tournament ranked fourth nationally with a 0.98 GAA.
The Hens and Cavs last met in 2018 with Delaware coming up with the 2-0 home victory. Virginia leads the all-time series by a narrow margin of 9-8-1, but the Hens have won two straight, including a 2-0 upset over the then-No. 5 Cavs in Charlottesville in 2016.
This will be Delaware's 10th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Hens captured the 2016 National Championship title following a 23-2 campaign and NCAA Tournament victories over Louisville, Duke, Princeton and North Carolina.
All seats at the Turf Field for the games will be general admission with tickets priced at $5. Children under two are free. Tickets will only be available for purchase on the day of game and sales will be cash only. There will also be a $5 parking fee at the John Paul Jones Arena South lot and the McCue Center lot.
No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Connecticut and No. 4 Louisville will serve as the other three host sites for the first and second round games. The winner of each site will advance to the NCAA semifinals on Nov. 22 at Wake Forest's Kentner Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. The NCAA Championship game will take place on Nov. 24 at that same location.
Follow Delaware Field Hockey on Twitter at @DelawareFH, on Instagram at @Delaware_FH and on Facebook at Delaware Field Hockey
"I'm very excited for our program to return to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in our past seven seasons," remarked Delaware head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "We are looking forward to another opportunity to represent the University of Delaware. This is a great Top 10 match up, and one that will provide high level competition and lots of action for the field hockey fan. Our players group has proven to be a good team this season. They found ways to win close games, won the CAA Regular Season and Tournament and the experience of our games this season has allowed excellent learning as the Blue Hens prepare for the Cavaliers in Charlottesville this Friday."
No. 2 Maryland (16-3) and No. 13 Saint Joseph's (17-3) will join Delaware and Virginia in first and second round competition at UVA's Turf Field. The Hens (16-3) and Cavs (15-3) will face off at noon on Friday while the Terps and Hawks will match up at approximately 2:30. The advancing teams will face one another on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Blue Hens captured their eighth Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title in a 2-1 victory over Northeastern on Sunday afternoon. Virginia collected an at-large bid after falling to No. 9 Boston College, 1-0, in overtime in Friday's ACC Semifinals contest.
Delaware has been led offensively this season by Femke Strien, who leads the CAA with 17 goals. However, it was Lotte de Koning who shined in the CAA Tournament by scoring five goals in two games to be named the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Performer. Sydney Rhodes enters the NCAA Tournament ranked fourth nationally with a 0.98 GAA.
The Hens and Cavs last met in 2018 with Delaware coming up with the 2-0 home victory. Virginia leads the all-time series by a narrow margin of 9-8-1, but the Hens have won two straight, including a 2-0 upset over the then-No. 5 Cavs in Charlottesville in 2016.
This will be Delaware's 10th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Hens captured the 2016 National Championship title following a 23-2 campaign and NCAA Tournament victories over Louisville, Duke, Princeton and North Carolina.
All seats at the Turf Field for the games will be general admission with tickets priced at $5. Children under two are free. Tickets will only be available for purchase on the day of game and sales will be cash only. There will also be a $5 parking fee at the John Paul Jones Arena South lot and the McCue Center lot.
No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Connecticut and No. 4 Louisville will serve as the other three host sites for the first and second round games. The winner of each site will advance to the NCAA semifinals on Nov. 22 at Wake Forest's Kentner Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. The NCAA Championship game will take place on Nov. 24 at that same location.
Follow Delaware Field Hockey on Twitter at @DelawareFH, on Instagram at @Delaware_FH and on Facebook at Delaware Field Hockey
Players Mentioned
Forward
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Goalkeeper
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