Field Hockey Suffers OT Heartbreak in 3-2 Loss to St. Joe's

Sunday, March 14

Newark, DE

4 p.m.

University of Delaware

(0-1)

Saint Joseph's

(2-1)

Saint Joseph's

DELAWARE

Photo by: Mark Campbell

Field Hockey Suffers OT Heartbreak in 3-2 Loss to St. Joe's

3/14/2021 8:40:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware field hockey team dropped its season opener, 3-2, to Saint Joseph's in overtime on Sunday afternoon.

The first game in 490 days for the Blue Hens started off as a defensive battle as Delaware and Saint Joseph's combined to only tally six shots and three penalty corners in the first half.

"It was great to see our team in their Delaware uniforms compete together again after not having played an official competition in about 15 months," head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said. "Compliments to our player's group on how they have gone about preparing for this season and staying focused on doing the right thing as Blue Hen student-athletes within our program and in their communities. Our performance may not have brought the final score we planned on, but today's game brings many positives and we will get better in a couple of areas in the days and weeks to come. It is all part of playing a first game of a new season."

Femke Strien added three points to her record with a goal and an assist. Strien put the Blue Hens on the board first with her 29th career goal in the 16th minute off a penalty corner, assisted by Emily Kresho and Ashlyn Carr.

Coming out of halftime, the Hawks tied it up with an unassisted goal by Anna Miller in the 34th minute before the Blue Hens pulled ahead again with a tipped in corner shot by Ellie Schepens, assisted by Strien and Kresho.

Two minutes later, Saint Joseph's evened the score to send the game into overtime with a goal from Leigh James, assisted by Celeste Smits, in the 48th minute.

The Hawks ultimately defeated the Blue Hens with an unassisted goal by Smits seven minutes into the first overtime period.

The Blue Hens will next face CAA foe Towson on Friday in Maryland before returning to Rullo Stadium next Sunday, March 21, against Temple University.

"We are excited to watch ourselves back on video and use this week to prepare for the double weekend with Towson and Temple coming up," said van de Kerkhof.