WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — Monmouth University couldn't overcome a 2-0 deficit Sunday on So Sweet A Cat Field and suffered its first loss of the season 2-1 against visiting Delaware.
The No. 18 nationally ranked Hawks opened the year with a convincing 5-1 victory over No. 17 Rutgers Friday in their home opener, while the Hens dropped their first game of the year to Villanova 2-1 as both teams moved to 1-1 overall following Sunday's result.
The first quarter was mainly played in the middle of the field as the ball found the inside of the circle just twice between the two sides. The first shot of the game came in the 21st minute on the opening goal from Delaware. The Hens won the ball back near their offensive 25 and moved numbers forward that allowed Penelope Kousouris to hit a ball toward cage that snuck past Hawks goalie
Charlie Bowman for the score.
Delaware doubled its lead to start the second half, as Alexa Michielsen knocked in her own rebound off the initial save from Monmouth's
Djoeke van Helsdingen who replaced Bowman at the break. Monmouth picked up its play to end the third quarter, as
Milla Frye registered the hosts its first shot of the game on a reverse that skimmed off a stick of a Hen defender. The Hawks kept the pressure on with
Éabha Curran forcing the first save of the game from Delaware goalie Gabrielle Prentice. Monmouth kept possession, working the ball back into the circle with
Keely Bowers finding Curran for the Hawks first of the day to cut the score to 2-1 with eight minutes left in the quarter.
Monmouth's momentum for a comeback was slowed as
Luisa Schlueter was given a five-minute yellow. The Hawks stayed composed during the duration of the man-down situation and out-shot the Hens, 1-0 but couldn't generate enough offense forcing them to pull van Helsdingen with three minutes left in regulation. The Hens stymied the hosts attack during the stretch holding Monmouth without a shot in the final minutes to secure the 2-1 victory.
Gallery: (8-30-2026) Field Hockey v Delaware 8/30/26
Delaware out-shot Monmouth 10-6 on the day including 5-3 in shots on goal with the Hens owning two penalty corners to the Hawks' one.
Bowman suffered her first loss of the season after starting the first 30 minutes, while van Helsdingen finished with three saves in 27-plus minutes.
The Hawks are back in action Friday, hosting Rider on So Sweet A Cat Field at 4 p.m.
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