Delaware Blue Hens Claim Programs First Field Hockey Championship
Delaware Blue Hens defeat North Carolina for Programs first National Championship
NORFOLK, VA - Your 2016 NCAA Field Hockey Champions are the Delaware Blue Hens after a magical run through the post season ended on Sunday with the programs first ever National Championship. The Blue Hens gave up a 2-0 lead in the second half only to storm back and score the game winning goal with just under six minutes remaining in regulation.
Delaware (23-2), who won 19 straight since September including a Colonial Athletic Association conference title, earned a spot in the finals after defeating Princeton in a national semifinal on Friday night.
Sophomore Greta Nauck started the scoring for the Blue Hens when she broke free and rifled one past North Caroline netminder, Shannon Johnson for a 1-0 lead. About 20 minutes later the Delaware again broke out on a odd-man rush. Meghan Winesett got a pass from Esmee Peet and found the back of the cage for a 2-0 lead. North Carolina threatened late in the first half but Emmeline Oltmans made a huge save to keep the Blue Hens in front going into the half.
The Tar Heels were not ready to give up that easy. In the second half North Carolina controlled the attack and put a bunch of quality shots on goal. Although Oltmans was great in the cage, UNC finally broke through when Ashley Hoffman found Lauren Moyer to cut the deficit to one.
With under eight minutes remaining between Delaware and a National Championship, the Tar Heels again created a quality opportunity when Malin Evert put a shot on the cage and Megan DuVernois cleaned up the rebound to equalize the game at two.
Since winning the national title in 2009, the Tar Heels have earned a spot in five of the last seven NCAA Championships, but have lost the last four. Sophmore sensation Greta Nauck scored her 33rd goal of the season and made it a fifth straight loss when she scored the game winning goal with 5:56 remaining in the game for Delaware.
This is the Blue Hens first National Championship since the Football program won a FCS title in 2003.
