FREDERICK, Md. – Gracyn Shutt anchored the Delaware Valley field hockey defense with a strong performance in the cage, but the Aggies fell to Hood, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon.
Hood applied pressure from the opening whistle, testing Shutt twice in the first minute, but the DelVal goalkeeper turned away both attempts. Shutt added another save in the eighth minute before the Blazers broke through moments later, with Bianca Scally finding the back of the cage to give Hood a 1-0 lead. The Aggies held firm for the remainder of the quarter, keeping the deficit at one heading into the second.
DelVal's defense continued to withstand the Hood attack early in the second, with Shutt making a pair of saves to keep the Aggies within one. The Blazers eventually added to their lead off a penalty corner in the 24th minute, with Sydney Fleming setting up Madeline Moreno for the goal. The Aggies held Hood scoreless over the final six minutes to enter halftime trailing 2-0.
The Aggies kept Hood off the board through the opening 11 minutes of the third quarter, highlighted by another stop from Shutt in the 40th minute. The Blazers extended their lead off a penalty corner shortly after, with Moreno finding Anna Sheldon for the goal and a 3-0 advantage. Shutt responded with another save in the closing minutes as DelVal's defense prevented Hood from adding to the lead through the end of the frame.
Shutt and the DelVal defense stood strong against sustained pressure throughout the fourth quarter. The goalkeeper turned away five shots over the opening five minutes of the frame before adding six more saves down the stretch. Shutt made four consecutive stops during a scramble in front of the cage in the 56th minute to keep the Blazers off the board. The Aggies held Hood scoreless over the final 19 minutes of action, preserving the 3-0 final.
The 17 saves in the game marks a career best for Shutt who previously recorded games with 12 shots and 13 shots.
The Aggies return to action this Wednesday, Sep. 23 when they host Immaculata at home at 4 p.m.
