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Field Hockey Recap |
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State Semifinals Delmar 1, Archmere 0 The Wildcats stunned the state field hockey community by reaching the state championship game for the first time in the program's proud history. The 8th seed, Delmar won the semifinal game against No. 4 Archmere on a goal by Becca Gum in the seventh minute at the University of Delaware's Rullo Stadium. The Wildcats then held on against six Archmere penalty corners in the game's final seven minutes to rise to 14-4 overall and advance to face two-time defending state champion Tower Hill in the state finals. The championship game, originally scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 16, was rescheduled for Monday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. at the University of Delaware's Rullo Stadium. Delmar appeared in the state semifinals twice before, once in 1998 and again in 1999. This time, the Wildcats controlled their semifinal game until the final seven minutes, when defenders Ashley Campbell, Christine Maloney and Stephanie Heineken and goalie Kristen Wheatley fended off numerous Archmere surges. Wheatley only had to make three saves for the shutout, but she came up big on hard shots to save the victory. The win was especially sweet for veteran Delmar head coach Linda Budd, who resigned before the season started but then decided to return for her 11th campaign. Archmere finished its season at 15-3-1. State Quarterfinals Delmar 2, Sussex Central 1 The Wildcats ended a Cinderella season for Sussex Central in the quarterfinals of the 2002 state field hockey tournament. Delmar scored the game-winning goal at 24:22 of the second half as Becca Gum knocked in a penalty corner from Tracy Lloyd. Sussex Central had upset top-seeded Cape Henlopen in the first round of the tournament. The victory moved Delmar into the state semifinals for the third time under veteran head coach Linda Budd. The Wildcats reached the semis in both 1998 and 1999 but were unable to advance to the championship. They will face fourth-seeded Archmere this time on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the University of Delaware's Rullo Stadium. Against Central, Delmar went up 1-0 on a goal by Jen Hastings off an assist from Sarah Web in the first half. Central tied the game late in the first half, but after Gum's goal, Delmar goalie Kristen Wheatley came up with several big saves, including two in the final two minutes to preserve the lead. Wheatley finished with six saves. Delmar outshot Central 12-9 but trailed 13-8 in penalty corners. The Wildcats also had to overcome a five-minute yellow card. First Round States Delmar 5, Lake Forest 4 (OT) The Wildcats avenged a regular season loss to Lake Forest that cost them the Henlopen Conference Southern Division championship to reach the quarterfinals of the 2002 state field hockey tournament. The game required a penalty stroke shootout, three 10-minute overtime periods, and some clutch goalkeeping by Delmar's Kristen Wheatley before the outcome was decided. Jen Hastings and Ashley Campbell each scored in the penalty stroke shootout phase and Wheatley stopped four straight shots during that phase to lift Delmar to 12-4 overall. Campbell scored the winner in the penalty shot phase after regulation and the three overtimes ended tied 3-3. In the penalty stroke phase, Lake Forest went ahead 4-3 but Wheatley wouldn't let the Spartans find the cage again. Hastings and Campbell then scored their goals to advance Delmar into the state quarterfinals against No. 16 Sussex Central, which shocked top-seeded Cape Henlopen 1-0 in another first rounder. In regulation, Delmar went ahead 2-1 at halftime on goals by Hastings and Becca Gum. The Wildcats then went ahead 3-1 in the second half when Tracy Lloyd scored on a penalty stroke. Lake Forest finished its season at 11-4-1. Cape Henlopen 3, Delmar 0 The Wildcats lost the Henlopen Conference contest to their annual rivals as Cape Henlopen clinched the conference championship. Delmar and Cape have been at the top of the conference the past couple of years, with the teams tying for the conference title in 2000. Cape beat Delmar 1-0 last year to claim the championship outright and then ousted Delmar from the state tournament with a 3-1 first round win. Delmar trailed 20-5 in shots and 19-9 in penalty corners. Delmar goalie Kristen Wheatley had 9 saves. Delmar 1, Sussex Central 0 The Wildcats secured the Henlopen Conference win on a second-half goal by Becca Gum. Kristin Wheatley earned the shutout in goal with 5 saves. Delmar led Sussex Central 12-7 in shots and 8-7 in penalty corners. Delmar 1, Polytech 0 The Wildcats rebounded from their first loss of the season for a Henlopen Conference shutout. Goalie Kristen Wheatley registered 3 saves to earn the shutout. Jen Hastings scored the game-winning goal at the 26:19 mark of the first half. Delmar dominated play with an 18-4 advantage in shots and a 16-6 advantage in penalty corners. Seaford 2, Delmar 0 The Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season with the Henlopen Conference defeat. Delmar controlled the game as it outshot Seaford 16-3, but it couldn't get the ball past Seaford goalie Ericca Bell. Delmar is now 6-1 in the conference and 7-1 overall. Delmar 4, Dover 1 The Wildcats remained undefeated after overcoming a 1-0 halftime deficit in a Henlopen Conference contest. Tracy Lloyd and Danielle Twilley scored two goals apiece for Delmar. Delmar 1, Caesar Rodney 0 The Wildcats maintained their unbeaten record with a tense victory in the Henlopen Conference game. Delmar trailed 11-6 in shots and penalty corners, but a second half goal by Becca Gum on an assist from Tracey Lloyd lifted it to 4-0 in the conference and 5-0 overall. Goalie Kristen Wheatley recorded 4 saves to earn the shutout. Delmar 3, Milford 2 The Wildcats stayed unbeaten as they overcame a 1-0 deficit with three second half goals in the Henlopen Conference Southern Division matchup. Jen Hastings, Jami Hunt and Becca Gum scored those goals as Delmar rose to 3-0 in the conference and 4-0 overall. Goalie Kristen Wheatley recorded 4 saves. The Wildcats led Milford 19-7 in shots and 11-3 in penalty corners. Delmar 2, Indian River 1 The Wildcats secured the Henlopen Conference Southern Division triumph on a penalty stroke by Tracy Lloyd with less than two minutes remaining to stay undefeated. Jen Hastings scored Delmar's other goal to forge a 1-1 tie at halftime. Now 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference, Delmar trailed Indian River 13-6 in shots and 11-3 in penalty corners. Delmar 2, Sussex Tech 1 The Wildcats controlled the game throughout but didn't pull out the Henlopen Conference victory until Becca Gum knocked in a shot with 30 seconds left on an assist from Stephanie Ralph. Megan Correll scored Delmar's first goal in the first half on an assist from Gum. Delmar, now 2-0, outshot Sussex Tech 12-5. |
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