Terriers Defeat Delaware, 2-1 in America East Tournament
November 2, 2000 | Field Hockey
BOSTON, MA (November 2) -- Junior midfielder Rachael Stillings (Escondido, CA) scored on a pass from senior midfielder Robyn Kenney (Whitehouse Station, NJ) with 19:29 left in the opening half to break a 1-1 tie as the second-seeded Boston University field hockey team advanced to the America East Championship game with a 2-1 win over No. 3 Delaware.
The Terriers will face top seed New Hampshire, which defeated Drexel, 3-2 in penalty strokes, in the championship on Saturday, November 4 at Nickerson Field.
B.U. got on the board first when junior forward Jane Rogers (Watertown, MA) knocked home a rebound out of mid-air off a penalty corner just 5:16 into the game to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead. Rogers, an America East First Team All-Conference selection, extended her point-scoring streak to seven games. She has now scored 2-8-12 in that span. On the play, senior forward Kate Cusick (Allentown, PA) lifted a shot that goalkeeper Stephanie Judefind stopped, but Rogers pounced on the rebound, knocking the ball into the cage before it touched the ground.
The Terriers dominated play in the early going, but Delaware got the equalizer seven minutes later when Megan McGuin knocked home a ball on a broken play to knot the score at 1-1.
B.U. didn't wait long to respond as Kenney, a second team All-Conference selection, fed Stillings a nice pass at the top right of the circle and the Escondido, CA native fired a shot past Judefind for the eventual game-winner just three minutes later.
The Fightin' Blue Hens tried to mount an attack late in the second half, but the Terriers did a nice job limiting Delaware's scoring chances. The Fightin' Blue Hens only took five shots at the B.U. cage. The Terriers had 12 penalty corners, Delaware one. Junior goalkeeper Susan Harrington (Tuftonboro, NH) recorded two saves. The Terriers took 18 shots on goal, with Judefind making nine saves. Andrea Grasso, who entered the game with 5:02 left, recorded one stop for Delaware. The Terriers improve to 14-7 on the season, Delaware falls to 8-12.
Saturday's matchup will pit the last two America East champions head to head. The Terriers are the defending conference champion, while New Hampshire won in 1998. This season, the Wildcats defeated Boston University, 2-1 in double overtime in Durham, NH on October 11.
No. 3 Delaware (8-12) 1 0 - 1 No. 2 Boston University (14-7) 2 0 - 2 First Half: (BU) Jane Rogers (unassisted), 29:44. (D) Megan McGuin (unassisted), 22:38. (BU) Rachael Stillings (Robyn Kenney), 19:29. Shots: BU 18, Delaware 5 Penalty Corners: BU 12, Delaware 1 Saves: BU 2 (Susan Harrington 2), Delaware 10 (Judefind 9, Grasso 1)
