University of Delaware Athletics
Strien and de Koning Shine On The Championship Stage For Delaware
11/12/2019 4:03:00 PM | Field Hockey
As Delaware field hockey celebrated its 2019 Colonial Athletic Association championship Sunday afternoon, basking in the fall sun on Rullo Field and posing for pictures with the trophy, the first thought on the mind of the Blue Hens players and coaches was the work they had put in to get back to this point.
After winning every CAA championship in a dominant five-year stretch from 2013-17 that included an NCAA national championship in 2016, the Blue Hens fell on their home turf to William & Mary in the 2018 title game.
With that disappointment in mind, this year's team was not to be denied in its journey to reclaim the conference crown.
"Kudos to our players group. It's a year in the making," head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said. "For us to bounce back from that moment for those 365 days since is awesome. It was not always easy, we were maybe not as talented as we were a year ago, but this group was very united. They love each other, they want to work together, and they found a way to win the close ones."
"I think we're all really happy that after losing last year we got the title back," junior Femke Strien said. "Right from the beginning, we knew we were going to go for this win. We were so ready."
Strien leads a Delaware attack that is stacked with talent, earning the title of 2019 CAA Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Hens with 16 goals in the regular season. Not only do the Blue Hens have this year's most productive player at their disposal, the 2018 CAA Player of the Year and 2017 CAA Rookie of the Year, junior Lotte de Koning, also wears a Delaware uniform.
De Koning missed 10 games due to injury this season, but was healthy in time to score four goals in a 5-3 win over James Madison in the CAA semifinals, both a career high for goals and a Delaware record for goals in a CAA tournament game.
Big players step up in big games, and across Delaware's two CAA tournament wins, the 5-3 win over the Dukes and a 2-1 triumph over Northeastern in the final, de Koning and Strien accounted for six of the Blue Hens' seven goals. De Koning herself scored five goals in the tournament, all of which were assisted by Strien.
"They like to share," van de Kerkhof said with a smile. "If you share, then you put yourself in position to win games. For them to do it the way they did, it is phenomenal."
"It's awesome playing with her," de Koning said of her fellow Dutch goal scorer. "She's such a good player and I think we are able to find each other well."
"She's so skilled," Strien added about de Koning. "I really enjoy playing with her because she's so dynamic, and I know that I can pass it somewhere and she'll get it."
The pair combined to score some beautiful goals en route to the Blue Hens' sixth CAA championship in seven years. With Strien inserting, de Koning put away a trio of goals on penalty corners in the semifinal against JMU, including one that was earned after Strien poked the ball away from a JMU back, and then was hooked from the retreating defender.
Later in the quarter, Strien played a high, looping ball from the end line on the left wing that de Koning tipped out of the air at the back post to give Delaware a three-goal advantage. In the final two days later, Strien had a moment of individual brilliance that doubled Delaware's lead. Dribbling in on Northeastern goalie Julia Gluyas on a breakaway, she veered to her left and fired a reverse shot. Gluyas dove to make a save several yards off her line, and as the rebound fell in front of Strien, she took a full swing, connecting on the bounce to send a rocket to the back corner of the net.
Of course, this championship wasn't won on offense alone. First Team All-CAA goalkeeper Sydney Rhodes led a stellar defensive unit that recorded seven shutouts this season, including several key performances early in the season when the offense was struggling to finish scoring opportunities.
"They know what the right time is to tackle," Strien said of the outstanding back field that featured Milan Spooren, Sarah Horgan, Kerri McClay and Emily Kresho amongst others. "Sydney sets everyone up so well, she gives good feedback in the back, it's great. They've been playing so strong. They've been keeping the opponent outside the circle."
The Blue Hens are far from done. The NCAA tournament starts Friday, Nov. 15 with Delaware traveling to Charlottesville, Va., to take on third-seeded Virginia. It will be a tough test, but it's an exciting challenge for a team that's just starting to hit its stride.
"I think if we play our best hockey, if we play our best DEHO [the team's adopted shorthand for Delaware Hockey], then we should be able to get far," Strien said.
"It's been amazing to be a part of such an amazing team," de Koning said. "And I think our strength this year too, is that no matter who's out there on the field, you get it done."
After winning every CAA championship in a dominant five-year stretch from 2013-17 that included an NCAA national championship in 2016, the Blue Hens fell on their home turf to William & Mary in the 2018 title game.
With that disappointment in mind, this year's team was not to be denied in its journey to reclaim the conference crown.
"Kudos to our players group. It's a year in the making," head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said. "For us to bounce back from that moment for those 365 days since is awesome. It was not always easy, we were maybe not as talented as we were a year ago, but this group was very united. They love each other, they want to work together, and they found a way to win the close ones."
"I think we're all really happy that after losing last year we got the title back," junior Femke Strien said. "Right from the beginning, we knew we were going to go for this win. We were so ready."
What a game. 🏆#BlueHens x #CAAChamps pic.twitter.com/L6Xys6ktpA
— Delaware Field Hockey (@DelawareFH) November 10, 2019
Strien leads a Delaware attack that is stacked with talent, earning the title of 2019 CAA Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Hens with 16 goals in the regular season. Not only do the Blue Hens have this year's most productive player at their disposal, the 2018 CAA Player of the Year and 2017 CAA Rookie of the Year, junior Lotte de Koning, also wears a Delaware uniform.
De Koning missed 10 games due to injury this season, but was healthy in time to score four goals in a 5-3 win over James Madison in the CAA semifinals, both a career high for goals and a Delaware record for goals in a CAA tournament game.
Big players step up in big games, and across Delaware's two CAA tournament wins, the 5-3 win over the Dukes and a 2-1 triumph over Northeastern in the final, de Koning and Strien accounted for six of the Blue Hens' seven goals. De Koning herself scored five goals in the tournament, all of which were assisted by Strien.
😍 We're glad to have this combo back on the field#BlueHens x #CAAChamps pic.twitter.com/l0rtlQa6RZ
— Delaware Field Hockey (@DelawareFH) November 10, 2019
"They like to share," van de Kerkhof said with a smile. "If you share, then you put yourself in position to win games. For them to do it the way they did, it is phenomenal."
"It's awesome playing with her," de Koning said of her fellow Dutch goal scorer. "She's such a good player and I think we are able to find each other well."
"She's so skilled," Strien added about de Koning. "I really enjoy playing with her because she's so dynamic, and I know that I can pass it somewhere and she'll get it."
The pair combined to score some beautiful goals en route to the Blue Hens' sixth CAA championship in seven years. With Strien inserting, de Koning put away a trio of goals on penalty corners in the semifinal against JMU, including one that was earned after Strien poked the ball away from a JMU back, and then was hooked from the retreating defender.
Later in the quarter, Strien played a high, looping ball from the end line on the left wing that de Koning tipped out of the air at the back post to give Delaware a three-goal advantage. In the final two days later, Strien had a moment of individual brilliance that doubled Delaware's lead. Dribbling in on Northeastern goalie Julia Gluyas on a breakaway, she veered to her left and fired a reverse shot. Gluyas dove to make a save several yards off her line, and as the rebound fell in front of Strien, she took a full swing, connecting on the bounce to send a rocket to the back corner of the net.
😳 Whoa.
— Delaware Field Hockey (@DelawareFH) November 10, 2019
That's your 2019 CAA Offensive of the Year folks.#BlueHens x #CAAChamps pic.twitter.com/Wc4BTSU2so
Of course, this championship wasn't won on offense alone. First Team All-CAA goalkeeper Sydney Rhodes led a stellar defensive unit that recorded seven shutouts this season, including several key performances early in the season when the offense was struggling to finish scoring opportunities.
"They know what the right time is to tackle," Strien said of the outstanding back field that featured Milan Spooren, Sarah Horgan, Kerri McClay and Emily Kresho amongst others. "Sydney sets everyone up so well, she gives good feedback in the back, it's great. They've been playing so strong. They've been keeping the opponent outside the circle."
The Blue Hens are far from done. The NCAA tournament starts Friday, Nov. 15 with Delaware traveling to Charlottesville, Va., to take on third-seeded Virginia. It will be a tough test, but it's an exciting challenge for a team that's just starting to hit its stride.
"I think if we play our best hockey, if we play our best DEHO [the team's adopted shorthand for Delaware Hockey], then we should be able to get far," Strien said.
"It's been amazing to be a part of such an amazing team," de Koning said. "And I think our strength this year too, is that no matter who's out there on the field, you get it done."
Players Mentioned
Forward
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Goalkeeper
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