File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. -- Senior Alexis Esbitt (at right) scored a career-high two goals and senior Casey Howard set a new school record for goals and points in a season as the No. 17 ranked University of Delaware field hockey team earned a post-season playoff berth with a 4-1 Colonial Athletic Association victory Friday night at Rullo Stadium.

The Blue Hens (12-4, 6-1 CAA) jumped out to a 3-0 lead and never looked back in posting their second straight win and improved to 9-1 at home this season. The Hens, who have outscored opponents 30-10 at home this season, have also won three straight conference home games.

The win helped Delaware keep pace with No. 10 ranked Drexel for the top spot in the CAA as the longtime rivals will enter their regular season finale showdown Sunday at 1 p.m. at Rullo Stadium tied for the league lead. Sunday’s winner will earn the CAA regular season title and will host the league tournament Nov. 7-8. Drexel (16-2, 6-1 CAA) defeated Towson 5-2 Friday night.

Delaware’s 12 wins are the team’s highest since the 2004 squad went 15-7 on its way to winning the Hens’ most recent CAA title and advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

Howard, a senior forward from Camden, Del. (Caesar Rodney High School), set two school records on the night as she became Delaware’s all-time single season leader in goals and points scored.

Her goal with just 6:23 left to play capped the scoring and gave her 21 for the season, breaking the previous record of 20 by Michele Rosenbaum in 1988. Howard also assisted on a first-half goal and raised her season point total to 47, surpassing Rosenbaum’s mark of 44 also in 1988.

Esbitt, who entered the game with just one goal all season and just eight for her career, enjoyed her first multiple goal game of her career. She opened the scoring with a goal just 6:03 into the contest when she scored in front off a rebound past Hofstra goalkeeper Amanda Heyde (seven saves) and upped the Hen lead to 3-0 eight minutes into the second half when she backhanded a rebound off a shot by Rae Everson past Heyde.

After Esbitt staked the Hens to the 1-0 lead, Delaware made it 2-0 when Amanda McCardell tipped in a pass from Howard with five minutes left in the first half to make it 2-0. The goal was McCardell’s eighth of the season. Howard received a long pass from Kimmy Schlezes and shot from just inside the circle with McCardell tipping the ball into the goal at the last second.

Esbitt upped the UD lead to 3-0 early in the third quarter before Hofstra scored its lone goal of the night off a rebound by Kristin Thompson into the far right corner of the goal past Noelle Diana (eight saves) with 23:24 left to play.

The Hens dodged a bullet just three minutes later when an apparent goal by Hofstra’s Micaela Gallagher was disallowed for going too high into the goal.

Howard then gave the Hens some added insurance with 6:23 left to play when she fired a rocket past Heyde from just inside the circle for her record-setting 21st goal of the season.

AGATE:

Hofstra........0........1.......1
Delaware....2.......2........4

Scoring Summary:
1st Half: Delaware - Alexis Esbitt, 6:03 into; Delaware - Amanda McCardell (Casey Howard), 30:00; 2nd Half - Delaware - Esbitt, 43:47; Hofstra - Kristin Thompson, 46:46; Delaware - Howard, 63:37.

Shots: Delaware - 14, Hofstra - 13; Penalty Corners: Delaware - 7, Hofstra - 2; Saves: Delaware - 8 (Noelle Diana), Hofstra - 7 (Amanda Heyde); Attendance: 415.