DOYLESTOWN, PA. – The Delaware Valley field hockey team struggled to respond to the Desales Bulldogs in a 4-0 loss at home on a humid October night.
Both teams were off to a slow start with back-to-back fouls. The Aggies got the first shot off to penetrate the defense, but Bulldog's goalie Lily Trocki came through with the save. Attacking right back, the Aggies were awarded a penalty corner and
Kylie Conley was able to get another shot off. Unfortunately for the Aggies, Trocki had another save, turning the momentum back around.
The Bulldogs took control during the second quarter, relentlessly attacking near the goal. They were awarded five penalty corners within the span of a minute and thirty-eight seconds, allowing them to get off five shots on goal as well. Aggies goalie
Gracyn Shutt was able to shut them down until their next corner, where the Bulldogs finally converted.
Carrying over their energy, Desales continued to attack and got another goal in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Showing no mercy, the Bulldogs followed that goal up with another. Now down 3-0, the Aggies got four fouls back-to-back before showing the fight they had left. Conley and
Savannah Weaver continued to get shots off.
There was a glimpse of hope for
Ava Smadi in the fourth quarter as she attempted a penalty stroke, but was unsuccessful. The Aggies continued to try to hold the Bulldogs off, but with the final five minutes of play, Desales capped off their win with a fourth goal.
Despite what the score may reflect, the Aggies still had a lot of grit defensively.
Lillian Plank contributed two defensive saves against the Bulldogs and Shutt had eleven saves on the night.
The Aggies will face the Stevens Ducks next on Saturday, October 17th away in Hoboken, NJ at 11:00 AM.
