File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. – Following a marathon victory on Friday, the University of Delaware field hockey team did not quite have enough to continue its winning ways as the Blue Hens fell to Old Dominion, 2-1, in a closely-contested Colonial Athletic Association game at the newly-minted Powhatan Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore captain Florence Sijbrandij (at right) notched her fourth goal of the season, but two early scores by the Monarchs helped Old Dominion (5-6, 3-0 CAA) extend its winning streak to four games.

With the loss, the Blue Hens fall to 1-8-1 all-time against the Monarchs. The team’s lone win came in the semifinals of the 2004 CAA Championship.

Delaware withstood an impressive attack by Old Dominion in the early part of the first half. Following an early shot by the Hens’ Amy Brewer, the Monarchs uncorked five in a row, including four in the span of less than two minutes. Nikki Rhoades was up for the challenge, however, posting four consecutive saves to keep the game scoreless.

Eventually, the Monarchs’ unrelenting attack was too much to stop. After Amanda Bieber posted an initial shot at 19:40 in the first half, Paige Clutter corralled the rebound and found the back of the cage for her first goal of the season.

Following halftime, Old Dominion struck again quickly to up its lead to two. After earning a penalty corner, Loran Hatch hit Alyschia Conn who found an opening for her third goal in 2008.

Delaware eventually called a timeout to break the Monarch’s momentum, but ODU kept up the attack. Earning four penalty corners in just over four minutes of action, the team posted two shots, but both were batted away by Rhoades.

With time running out, the Hens used a last-ditch effort to claw back into the game. On the team’s second penalty corner of the contest with just under three minutes remaining in regulation, Rae Everson and Missy Woodie set up Sijbrandij, who fired a blast into the cage to pull Delaware back within one.

Unfortunately, the Blue Hens could not pull even as the team saw its two-game roll halted.

Rhoades had another strong game in the net for Delaware, posting eight saves. Although the Hens were out-shot by a 12-4 margin, her play helped anchor a strong defensive effort that kept the game close.

Delaware will return to action next Friday when the team hosts CAA foe Northeastern at 7 p.m.