NEWARK, DE -- Sophomore Casey Howard (Camden, DE/Caesar Rodney) notched her first career hat trick and Delaware matched its highest goal output of the season with a 5-2 non-league field hockey victory over La Salle Sunday afternoon at Rullo Stadium in the regular season finale.

Delaware will compete at the CAA quarterfinals this Wednesday as the No. 6 seed and will travel to the site of the No. 3 seed. The Hens could play at Hofstra, William & Mary or Northeastern.

Delaware (7-11, 3-5 CAA), which broke a four-game losing streak, scored three goals in the first 12 minutes as Molly Burke scored just eight minutes into the game and then Howard followed with two goals of her own to give the Hens a 3-0 lead. After two La Salle goals, Burke responded with her second goal of the day and seventh of the season with three minutes left in the first half to give the Hens a 4-2 lead.

In the second half, Howard posted the only goal to complete her hat trick and give Delaware the 5-2 victory. Amanda Warrington was the last Delaware player to record a hat trick when she scored three goals against Rutgers September 9, 2005. This is the fifth multi-goal game of Howard’s career.

Goalie Nikki Rhoades, who ranks second in the CAA in saves per game with 7.31, recorded four saves to get her sixth win of the season.

The Hens outshot the Explorers 14-12 and both teams had six penalty corners.

Laura Farley and Amy Comstock tallied goals for the Explorers, who drop to 6-13 on the year.

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