Photo by Mark Campbell

Boxscore

DURHAM, N.C. -- The University of Delaware field hockey team scored just over five minutes into its season opener Saturday afternoon to take the lead against No. 8 ranked Michigan State, but the Spartans answered back with seven unanswered goals and moved on to the 7-2 victory in the opening round of the Duke Tournament.

The Hens (0-1), who received votes in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association pre-season poll, will conclude the tournament Sunday at 11 a.m. as the Hens take on No. 12 Louisville (0-1). Host and No. 10 Duke (1-0), which defeated Louisville 3-0, will take on Michigan State (1-0) at 2 p.m. in the championship game.

Senior forward Casey Howard (at right), who missed last season with a foot injury, returned strong as she scored an unassisted goal just five minutes and 25 seconds into the contest vs. Michigan State to give the Hens the 1-0 lead. But the advantage didn’t last long as the Spartans tied it up on a goal by Chatae Miller 15 minutes later and took a 2-1 lead into intermission when Jatene Steinmetz scored five minutes after that.

Michigan State outscored the Hens 5-1 in the second stanza as Manouk Vernij scored all three of her goals, including two in a six minute span that pushed the lead to 5-1 with 22:49 left to play.

The Hens finally got back on the board in the final minutes of the game as Howard fed Amanda McCardell off a penalty corner and the junior scored her first career goal with 6:32 left to play.

Howard, a first team All-Colonial Athletic Association and All-Region selection in 2008, netted her 30th career goal in the first half and is now just four goals shy of the No. 10 spot on the all-time UD goals list.

Noelle Diana posted 11 saves in the nets for Delaware while Elissa Unger posted four saves to earn the win for MSU. The Spartans oushot the Hens 23-8 and held a 6-3 edge in penalty corners.

Michigan State spoiled the Hens’ opener for the second straight season after downing Delaware 3-2 in the 2008 opener at the Louisville Tournament. The Spartans advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year before falling in the opening round.

AGATE:

Delaware...........1.......1.......2
Michigan State...2.......5.......7

Scoring Summary: 1st Half - D - Casey Howard, 5:25 into game; MSU - Chantae Miller (Floor Rijpma), 20:45; MSU - Jatene Steinmetz, 25:24; 2nd Half - MSU - Jeamie Deacon (Penalty Stroke), 36:58; MSU - Manouk Vernij (Angela Pegura), 41:03; MSU - Manouk Vernij, 47:11; MSU - Julie Mackey (Angie Lucik), 50:19; MSU - Manouk Vernij, 58:03; D - Amanda McCardell (Casey Howard), 63: 28.

Shots: Delaware - 8, Michigan State - 23; Penalty Corners: Delaware - 3, Michigan State - 6; Saves: Delaware 11 (Noelle Diana), Michigan State - 4 (Elissa Unger).