DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – When they take the field for the 2021 season opener, it will have been 22 months since the Delaware Valley University field hockey team played a meaningful contest. The hiatus built anticipation for the new campaign and on Thursday, head coach Carol DiGirolamo and the Aggies announced their 2021 17-game schedule.
DiGirolamo, in her 16th season at the helm, will lead DelVal into action on September 1 for the season opener at Cabrini, a team it hasn't faced since 2015. The Cavaliers are one of just three teams on this year's slate that DelVal did not play in 2019 – Swarthmore and Keystone are the others.
The Aggies home opener comes on Wednesday, September 8th against Albright College, a familiar foe they defeated at home in 2018, but fell to on the road in 2019 – both one-goal contests. Overall, DelVal is 7-4 against the Lions since 2008. Two days later, the Aggies will welcome Ramapo College to Doylestown for a Friday night contest as they look to avenge a 2-0 setback in Mahwah, New Jersey from 2019.
The next two games take DelVal on the road to face Drew and Swarthmore. The Aggies have defeated Drew the last three times they met including a 4-0 home victory in 2019 that saw returners Jess Dixon and TJ Smith combine for three goals.
DelVal returns home on September 21 for a 4 p.m. contest against Bryn Athyn before beginning conference play at home on Saturday, September 25 against Misericordia. That kicks off a four-week stretch where the Aggies play a non-conference game during the week and a MAC Freedom opponent on the weekend.
Along with the Cougars, DelVal plays league games at home against DeSales and FDU-Florham and travels for four league games at Wilkes, King's, Stevens, and Arcadia. The Aggies wrap up the season with three of the final four games on the road. The last home game is October 23 against FDU and the regular-season concludes at Arcadia on October 27.
Complete schedule here.
