Stifling Defensive Effort Leads Blue Hens To 11-2 Road Win at Monmouth

Saturday, February 22

West Long Branch, NJ

11 a.m.

University of Delaware

3-1

Monmouth

1-2

Delaware

Monmouth

Photo by: Andrew Kurtz/Monmouth University

Stifling Defensive Effort Leads Blue Hens To 11-2 Road Win at Monmouth

2/22/2020 1:30:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Prior to Saturday's showdown at Monmouth, head coach Ben DeLuca told his University of Delaware men's lacrosse team that he was excited to see how the group would respond from the tough loss this past Tuesday at Saint Joseph's.

That excitement was backed up by a stifling defensive effort by the Blue Hens, which led to an 11-2 road win over the Hawks on a blustery afternoon at Kessler Field.

"I'm really proud of the effort our guys put forth today. That's exactly the type of response that the coaching staff was looking for," DeLuca said. "I told them afterwards, the key was the preparation and their approach the process since Tuesday's game. Moving forward, it's critical that they know how the process and the approach they take to practice leading up to each game is how we are going to get to where we want to get to as a program."

Senior Matt DeLuca allowed just one goal in nearly 55 minutes of action, while racking up 11 saves, several of which were point blank range. Sophomore Owen Grant led a defensive unit with three caused turnovers and two groundballs and allowed just nine shots total in the first half.

Seven different Blue Hens had caused turnovers with the Hawks committing 20 on the day.

"We wanted to get the taste out of our mouth from Tuesday. We knew that wasn't Delaware Lacrosse and we wanted to respond and I thought we were able to do that today," Matt DeLuca said. "As a defensive unit, we're continue to build chemistry and the group in front of me is so talented and allows me to get the angles I need to and they are really the ones who allow me to do my job."

Offensively, sophomore Tye Kurtz had an outstanding day with five goals and two assists, while both Charlie Kitchen and Michael Robinson each had two goals on the day. Sophomore Clay Miller had four points with one goal and three assists on the afternoon.

"To have six guys out there that we all know can find the back of the net really allows each of us to take our time and settle into the offense," Kurtz said. "We all trust each other and know that if we stay patient and run our offense that we're going to have success and we were able to do that today."

Delaware's offense went to work early, with Kurtz finding Kitchen under two minutes into the game for a 1-0 lead. It's the 36 straight game that Kitchen has scored a goal, extending the nation's longest active goal-scoring streak.

DeLuca and the defense would go to work, with the senior goalie racking up five saves in the first quarter while the Blue Hens pushed their lead to 2-0 with a Kurtz goal.

The second quarter was much of the same with the Hawks only getting off two shots in the entire period while for the second time this season Delaware held an opponent without a goal for an entire half (NJIT – second half).

Kurtz would get two more goals in the first seven minutes of the second half to quickly extend the lead to 6-0.

The defense would do the rest from there, allowing just two goals and forcing 11 second half turnovers en route to the victory.

Up Next

Delaware returns home to face a nationally-ranked Villanova squad next Saturday. Game time at Delaware Stadium is set for 12 p.m.