The Delaware field hockey team completed a memorable season Saturday with a decisive 7-0 loss to No. 6 Michigan State. The Hens couldn't compete at the next level as the Spartans outshot Delaware 31-2.
Their season was highlighted with a win in the CAA Tournament final, defeating Drexel 1-0. The win gave the Hens their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2004.
On Nov. 1, the Hens fell to Drexel 4-2 in a fight for the CAA Regular Season Championship, making their record 12-5. Following this loss, the team was given the No. 2 seed for the tournament, but the team planned to exceed their ranking.
"We played Drexel before and they had beaten us, but we just went in there thinking we had nothing to lose," junior defensive standout Missy Woodie said. "We were pretty calm going in there. We just knew what needed to be done."
After an overtime win against James Madison, Delaware upset top-seeded Drexel 1-0 last Saturday in the final of the CAA Tournament. Sophomore Amanda McCardell scored the lone goal in the contest on an assist from senior Casey Howard.
For her outstanding performance in the tournament, Howard was the first player this season to be named National Player of the Week by WomensFieldHockey.com twice, and was named MVP of the final as well.
Howard entered the CAA tournament following an outstanding regular senior season. She set program records for goals and points in a single season with 22 and 49 respectively. She also ended the regular season third on the all-time goals with 51 and points with 113.
"[She] triggered our offense," said Woodie of Howard.
Delaware then entered the NCAA tournament with the 11th seed, and for the first round of the playoffs, drew No. 6 Michigan State. In the Hens' season opener, they lost to Michigan State, 7-2.
With their win, No. 6 Michigan State advances to the next round of the tournament where they will face Virginia, following their 3-0 victory over Richmond.
However, Woodie was not too disappointed with the loss since she believed her team met their original goal.
"To be honest, our goal was always to get to CAA [championships] but we knew how hard it was to get there and there were some doubts here and there that we wouldn't make it this far," she said.
Howard agreed.
"This is so amazing. [Winning the CAA championship] has been our goal since we got here as freshmen," she said. "We knew we could reach this goal if we worked hard all season. It wasn't just us, but it was also our coaches, our trainers and our strength coaches. We were the most fit team at this tournament, and we just kept going and going."
Several of the Hens were also honored in a ceremony at the end of the season. Howard along with juniors Michelle Drummonds and Missy Woodie were all named as members of the first-team all CAA squad, which was voted on by league coaches. Tying Drexel with those three selections for the most players honored, this also was the most Delaware players honored since 2004.
Woodie summed up the season in a few words.
"To describe it in one phrase, it's definitely a Cinderella story," she said.
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