Field hockey having best start since '94

By Jeff Borzello The Review

September 14, 2007

Newark, DE (CSTV U-WIRE) -- For approximately 10 minutes of Delaware's field hockey game Wednesday night against Monmouth University, it appeared the Hens' undefeated record might be threatened by the visiting Hawks.

Then the Hens woke up.

An unassisted goal by sophomore Kimmy Schlezes at the 10:46 mark of the first half started a run of four goals in 14 minutes by Delaware, giving them at 4-0 lead they would never relinquish, winning 8-2.

The victory improves No. 14 Delaware to 7-0, while Monmouth remains winless at 0-5.

Schlezes and senior co-captain Amanda Warrington led the way with two goals each, while the team out-shot Monmouth 29-6. Junior goalie Nikki Rhoades, who came in leading the nation in goals against average with 0.39 per game, allowed only one first half goal.

Delaware head coach Carol Miller attributed the Hens' slow start Wednesday to the fact this was the first time the team had a full day of classes before a game.

"I wanted us to be ready, but I don't know if we were," Miller said. "It's very difficult to plan and prepare the same way when you have a full day of classes. It's a big deal."

However, once Delaware got into the flow of the game, it dominated both sides of the ball and wore down Monmouth.

Junior co-captain Casey Howard said the team's depth played a huge role in the victory.

"Everyone contributed," Howard said. "It was a team effort; everyone stepped up, especially the people on the bench."

Miller said the team came into the game confident, facing an inferior Hawks' team.

"It's hard not to go confidently into a game like this," she said. "Knowing our history against Monmouth, we were very confident and just wanted to take our performance to another level."

With the victory, the Hens have the best start to a season since the 1994 team that also opened up 7-0.

Both Howard and Miller said the team had a chance to be special heading into the season.

"I knew we'd be really good," Howard said. "We had some good players coming back and the freshmen have really contributed."

Miller said the team turned a corner from last year, thanks to the returning players and a strong recruiting class.

Now that the Hens have their highest ranking since 2003, the team has a target on their back and every opponent wants to be the team to end the Hens' undefeated season, Warrington said. She and the team relishes the opportunity to be an opponent that a team looks forward to playing.

"We enjoy it. It's a competition thing, like we can't lose," she said. "Before, if we won, it was great, but now that we're on top, it gives us more to work for."

Miller warned the team before the match and said they had to step up every game and expect the most from their opponent.

"I told the team that we're the hunted now, no longer the hunters," she said. "Every team is looking to play their best against us."

With Colonial Athletic Association play starting for the Hens on Sept. 21 at perennial favorite James Madison University, it is time to prove to the rest of the country they are the team to beat.

"We need to keep everything the same," she said. "We need to keep improving, finding new ways to step up. Going into the CAA, it's a totally different ball game."

Even though CAA rivals No. 8 James Madison and No. 13 Old Dominion University have more storied programs and are ranked higher, the Hens feel they are on the same level.

"I definitely think we've turned a lot of heads," Howard said. "I think we're up there with them."

Miller said she thinks the nation needs to pay attention to the Hens and stop overlooking them heading into CAA play.

"Let them think what they want," she said. "But they'd be crazy not to respect us."