Five Different Blue Hens Find the Back of the Cage as Delaware Knocks Off Villanova 5-0 in Field Hockey
September 3, 2011
Photos: Heather Hartman (top right) and Carly Hecht (bottom left)
Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware field hockey squad dominated the action on both sides of the field Sunday at Rullo Stadium, getting goals from five different players and holding Villanova to just eight shots en route to a 5-0 non-league victory.
The Blue Hens (3-1), who bounced back from a 5-2 setback to No. 15 Duke Saturday afternoon, have now scored four or more goals in three of their four games this season with the 3-1 start the best since the 2007 squad started the year out with a 7-0 record.
Delaware first year head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof saw five different player score goals Saturday, including three players with multiple points.
“Today I think we executed our game plan better (than on Saturday vs. Duke), especially in the second half,” said van de Kerkhof. “In the first half we were undisciplined. But they regrouped as a team at halftime and did a great job during the second half. Our possession was better. Our opportunities were better. We didn’t score a lot more, but you could see a change in performance.
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"We are a good team," continued van de Kerkhof. "You want more players being able to score and grow in those positions so when one person or two people are not on in a certain game, we have other people that can fill in the holes. I’m excited about what we are seeing with a very young Delaware team as it relates to a new direction.”
Amanda McCardell, Heather Hartman, Kasey Prettyman, Tori Sharpless, and Toni Popinko each found the back of the cage during the sultry afternoon with Popinko and Prettyman each contributing assists and Carley Hecht adding two assists. The Hens scored two of their goals off penalty corners.
Delaware outshot the Wildcats (1-2) by a 20-8 margin and held an 11-6 advantage in corners. Blue Hen senior goalkeeper Noelle Diana needed to make just two saves to record the shutout, the sixth of her career.
The Hens scored their two first half goals on penalty corners as McCardell took feeds from Hecht and Kayla Schweitzer to score just 7:49 into the game and Hartman scored her first goal of the season off a Hecht insert with just 5:03 left in the stanza.
Delaware extended the margin just under five minutes into the second half as Popinko issued a short pass to Prettyman in close with Prettyman beating Villanova goalkeeper Megan Goelz. Sharpless scored her team-high fourth goal of the game with 12:33 left to play off an assist from Prettyman and Popinko capped the scoring when she rifled a shot from 15 yards out past Goelz with just 14 seconds left to play.
Action continues for the Blue Hens this Friday. Sept. 9 when Delaware welcomes national power North Carolina to Rullo for a 7 p.m. start. The undefeated Tar Heels (3-0), ranked No. 2 in the pre-season NFHCA poll, have won six national championships, including capturing the 2009 NCAA crown.
