DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Nikki Rogers scored less than three minutes into the game and the Delaware Valley College defense took care of the rest as the Aggies clinched their first Freedom Conference playoff berth since 2006 with Wednesday's 1-0 home blanking of Misericordia University.
Picked to finish sixth out of seven teams in the preseason conference coaches' poll, Delaware Valley is instead 10-7 overall, 4-1 and in sole possession of second place in the standings heading into the night's conference action (a King's win over Wilkes would put the Lady Monarchs in a second-place tie with the Aggies. They have two regular-season games remaining (at Wilkes on Saturday and at first-place Eastern next Tuesday) and can still finish in any of the four playoff positions.
Wednesday was also Senior Day and Delaware Valley honored four-year players Danielle Heyne and Bethany Pavlik. The two have combined for 191 points in their standout careers, and the victory over Misericordia made the duo the winningest senior class in program history (43 wins).
The Aggies wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as Rony Jacober's shot just inside the circle went off a Cougar defender and trickled away from the two. Rogers got to the loose ball and sent a shot through a crowd and into the cage with just 2:55 off the clock. It was the junior's third goal of the season.
Delaware Valley had plenty of opportunities to add an insurance goal as it recorded 21 shots and 15 penalty corners. However, Misericordia (6-11, 1-3 Freedom) goalkeeper Grace Riker kept her squad in the contest with 10 saves, including nine in the second stanza.
Meanwhile the Aggies defense limited the Cougars to just three shots in each half. Misericordia's best chance came with two minutes remaining as a Samantha Sorokas attempt was stopped by Delaware Valley sophomore goalkeeper Hollis Hancock (six saves and her fifth shutout). The Cougars then had a penalty corner with under a minute to go, but they could get a shot off on the opportunity and Pavlik cleared it away. Misericordia sent a long ball wide of the net from outside the circle and the final seconds ticked off the clock as the Aggies celebrated their postseason berth.
