The Delaware Valley University field hockey team honored their eight seniors, Jess Dixon, Lili Dougherty, Nikki Hartzel, Erin Murray, Gillian Nardelli, TJ Smith, Sadie Strober and Maiya Wendel prior to their final home game, a 5-1 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom defeat to FDU-Florham (10-6, 5-1).
The Aggies (2-14, 1-5) put together the first offensive chance of the game just over 30 seconds in, as Sydney Keagle was left with an open cage deep in the circle, but Megan Surgent raced in and made a defensive save to keep DelVal off the board.
FDU-Florham quickly created their own opportunity 27 seconds later as Haleigh Flukey dribbled into the circle and scored from five yards out to put the Devils ahead 1-0. The remainder of the first quarter was evenly matched, as each team fired five shots, but neither team could find the back of the cage as the Devils took a 1-0 lead into the second quarter.
FDU-Florham wasted no time adding to their lead in the second, as Flukey added her second goal 50 seconds in. The Devils would extend their lead 1:13 later, as Emilee Vizzuso scored on a penalty stroke to make it 3-0. Vizzuso would later net her second goal of the game and Kendall Moore would then give FDU-Florham a 5-0 lead heading into halftime.
DelVal would continue to generate chances in the third quarter, outshooting the Devils 4-1 in the frame. Ashley Birmingham put the Aggies on the board 6:40 into the third, as she was awarded a penalty stroke and fired a shot in the upper left corner of the cage to cut the deficit to 5-1. The goal was Birmingham's first of the season and the final tally of the game, as neither team could find the back of the cage in the final 18:20.
The Devils narrowly outshot the Aggies 14-13, with each team firing eight shots on goal.
The Aggies will wrap up their season Wednesday at Arcadia.
