Kasey Prettyman Leads the University of Delaware Field Hockey Comeback over Rutgers, 4-2
August 29, 2011
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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• Boxscore
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Four different University of Delaware field hockey team members scored a goal to secure a 4-2 victory over Rutgers on Monday afternoon at the Bauer Track & Field/Field Hockey Complex in non-conference action.
Delaware (2-0), under the direction of first-year head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof, has won its first two games to open a season for the first time since 2007 when that Blue Hen squad started 7-0.
For the second game in a row, Delaware needed to come back from an early deficit as it trailed 1-0 just 2:05 into the contest. Rutgers (1-1) scored the opening goal on a penalty stroke as Gia Nappi tallied the go-ahead mark.
The early setback did not deflate the Blue Hens however, as they answered with four consecutive goals to put the game away. They scored seven unanswered goals in the season opener, after finding themselves down 1-0 early to Bryant on Friday.
Kasey Prettyman (above right) opened the scoring for the Blue Hens, as she knotted the score on a shot from five yards out. Her first goal of the season came on a nice one-touch setup from Tory Sharpless at the 28:22 mark of the first half.
Freshman Kelsey McKee scored her second goal of the season less than four minutes later, which would eventually become the game-winner. McKee slammed a shot home from the top of the circle, as Hannah Pepper inserted a penalty corner to Kayla Schweitzer. With her stick parallel to the ground, Schweitzer stick-stopped the ball to set up McKee’s shot.
Out of the halftime break, Nicole Onorato quickly gave the Blue Hens a 3-1 lead on a nice end line pass from Prettyman. Onorato tipped in the pass that made its way through the defense. It was Onorato’s first goal and Prettyman’s first assist of the season.
Seeming to put the game away only 2:45 minutes later, Carley Hecht notched her first goal of the season after collecting a rebound and finishing into the left corner of the cage for the 4-1 lead. The fourth and final goal for the Blue Hens came 5:36 into the second half.
With the Blue Hens looking for time to run out, the Scarlet Knights cut the lead to two after a loose ball in front of the net found the stick of Chelsea Rota. Rota came out of the scramble in front with her first goal of the season with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.
But Delaware goalkeeper Noelle Diana stood her ground the rest of the match to preserve the road victory. She made three saves on the afternoon while her counterpart, Sarah Stuby, stopped six shots.
The Blue Hens outshot Rutgers, 14-9, and earned more penalty corners, 9-7, than the home squad.
Delaware returns home this weekend to begin a five-game homestand. The Blue Hens square off against #15 ranked Duke on Saturday at 12 noon, before playing Villanova on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Rullo Stadium.
AGATE:
Delaware def. Rutgers, 4-2
Delaware… 2… 2… 4
Rutgers…… 1… 1… 2
Scoring Summary: First Half – Rutgers – Gia Nappi (2) (penalty stroke), 2:05 into game; UD – Kasey Prettyman (1) (Tory Sharpless), 28:22; UD – Kelsey McKee (2) (Kayla Schweitzer, Hannah Pepper), 32.07; Second Half – UD – Nicole Onorato (1) (Kasey Prettyman), 37:51; UD – Carley Hecht (1), 40:36; Rutgers – Chelsea Rota (1), 60:26.
Shots: Delaware – 14, Rutgers 9; Penalty Corners: Delaware – 9, Rutgers – 9; Saves: Delaware – 3 (Noelle Diana), Rutgers – 6 (Sarah Stuby).
Player Cards: GC – Delaware – Melissa LeNoir, 18:05; GC – Rutgers – Nicole Gentile, 22:56; GC – Rutgers – Gia Nappi, 42:34; YC – Delaware – Melissa LeNoir, 55:36; GC – Rutgers – Jenn Staab, 57:52; GC – Delaware – Kasey Prettyman, 67:09; YC – Delaware – Melissa LeNoir, 68:52.
