ST. DAVIDS (PA) – The Delaware Valley College field hockey season came to a heartbreaking end in the Freedom Conference semifinals as the Aggies tied the game in the closing seconds of regulation, but top-seeded and nationally-ranked Eastern University scored early in overtime for the 2-1 victory.
Delaware Valley was picked to finish sixth of seven teams in the preseason conference coaches' poll, but instead tied for third in the standings and qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2006. Wednesday's setback gave the squad a 10-10 overall record for the year.
Eastern, ranked 12th in womensfieldhockey.com Division III poll and 20th in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll, improved their mark to 16-4 overall and will host third-seeded King's College (a 2-1 overtime winner over No. 2 Wilkes University) in Saturday's championship game.
The Eagles, who breezed through the Freedom with a perfect 7-0 mark in the regular season and did not have a one-goal decision in those contests, held a 1-0 lead and had not allowed a single shot to Delaware Valley – while recording 21 of their own shots - as the game headed to the final minute of regulation.
The Aggies made a final push forward and were awarded a penalty corner with 1:15 remaining. They set up for their opportunity and put the ball back into play with 48 seconds left as Danielle Heyne sent a feed to Mindy Miniconzi just outside the top of the circle. Miniconzi settled the ball and sent it a perfect pass back to Heyne who was all alone near the left post. Heyne didn't miss as the senior scored her 23rd and most important goal of her career with just 39.2 seconds remaining to tie the contest at 1-1.
Eastern came right back and was awarded a penalty corner with no time remaining in regulation. However, the Aggies were able to quickly clear the ball out of the circle to send the game to overtime.
In the extra session, All-American Lindsay Moyer had a good look for Eastern just a minute in, but Delaware Valley goalkeeper Hollis Hancock made a pad save. A penalty corner was awarded a few seconds later and the Eagles were able to take advantage of it. A shot was deflected by an Aggie defender and the ball went into the air and behind Hancock, who came out on the play. The Eagles' Christin Haas was able to get to the ball and used a backhand flip to notch the game-winning tally with 1:43 off the clock.
The game was scoreless for the first 33-plus minutes of the first half, but the Eagles scored with 1:12 to go as Sarah Garber connected off a pass from Kimberly Campbell on a penalty corner. It was their 10th shot and 15th corner of the stanza.
Eastern continued the offensive onslaught in the second stanza but Hancock kept Delaware Valley in the contest with several spectacular saves. Her best stop came with six minutes remaining as she dove across the crease and blocked a one-timer by Haas. Hancock finished with 11 saves, including seven on shots by Moyer.
The loss wrapped up the outstanding careers of Aggie seniors Heyne and Bethany Pavlik. The two combined for 193 points over their four years and finished as the winningest class in Delaware Valley field hockey history (42 wins). Pavlik finished as the all-time leader in assists 28 while her 48 goals and her 124 points both rank second. Heyne's 23 assists put her behind only Pavlik and her 69 points are fifth on the career list.
