DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Delaware Valley field hockey team welcomed Widener to Robert A. Lipinski field for the home opener dropping the contest 4-0 on Friday evening.
 
The DelVal defense shined from the start led by the efforts of graduate student goalkeeper Brooke Golbeski with 13 critical saves in the game. With just under two minutes to go in the first quarter, Golbeski showed her talents slapping down a reverse chip shot from the Pride.
 
Shortly after the Aggies defense faced the tough task of back-to-back corners as the clock was running out. Golbeski made the diving save on the first attempt while senior Olivia Rexrode flew out of the cage for the block on the second attempt to keep the game scoreless.
 
Seven minutes into the second quarter the Aggies' offense drew their first penalty corner attempt. Kaylee Hartung stood at the baseline for the insert placing the ball on the stick of Brynne Miller. Miller found Kenzie Boyd who sent the ball into Natalie Ott standing right on the pads of the goalie. Ott attempted to break through goalie's pads with no luck.
 
The Aggies defense continued to show its strength in the final quarter. In the 47^th minute, Widener penetrated the DelVal circle firing off a shot that found the pads of Golbeski, but the ball rebounded back to the Pride offense. A second shot ensued that snuck through the feet of Golbeski and found the stick of Jillian Collins for the huge defensive save.
 
DelVal stuffed yet another corner attempt from the Pride with just over five minutes remaining. The insert was sent to the top of the circle ready for the direct shot at the cage, but Boyd answered the call flying out of the goal to intercept the shot and force the foul to put the Aggies in possession.
 
Offensive momentum began for DelVal in the final three minutes with Hartung taking the ball down field with speed firing at the right side of the cage sending the ball just wide and over the endline. The Aggies saw their final big chance in the 58^th minute on a penalty corner. The ball went straight up to Miller for the shot blocked by the Widener defense.
 
DelVal is back in action on the road at Immaculata on Tuesday, Sep. 9 at 4 p.m.