The University of Delaware opened up their 10th Anniversary season when the UConn Huskies paid a visit to Delaware. This is the third time that UD and UConn have played each other, but the first meeting since they met at Nationals in 2011. The Huskies came into Newark after dropping their first game of the season the night before 9-4 to DVCHC foe West Chester.
The Huskies got off to a quick 2-0 lead led by Stephanie Blasnik but Jr. Kimberly Blasnik netting her first of two goals of the afternoon to cut the score in half with the 1st UD goal of the season.
In the second, Delaware would go goal-for-goal with UCONN standout, Caroline Pridmore who had a hat-trick in the period, keeping her team up 5-3 despite a PP goal by Sr. Danielle Malysa and a tally by Soph. Megan Lundahl.
The 3rd period was where the Blue Hens used their depth and speed to their advantage. Center Kimberly Blasnik netted her second of the game and two minutes later Malysa would also get her second of the day to even the game at 5 while on another power play.
The game was tied with 9 minutes to play until UCONN’s Pridemore scored her 7th goal of the weekend. Then with 4:04 left on the clock, Jr. Kelley Philbin put a pass from Sr. Katherine Horn past UConn goalie Rebecca Rubinstein to tie the game again. UCONN would earn an unsportsmanlike penalty on the goal but the Blue Hens wouldn’t need the extra attacker. With just over 2 minutes left, Danielle Malysa led a charge into the zone that would end up on Sarah Berkley’s stick and she wouldn’t disappoint. Now for the first time in the afternoon UD would lead. After Soph. Katie Smith took a penalty for checking UD would be force into killing a penalty through the final 1:31. UD was able to hold off the UConn final push to win their first game of the year with a 7-6 final.
UD Fresh. Goalie Sarah Ehrlich faced 27 shots in the contest, stopping 21 to earn her first college win.
After earning their first win of the season UD now has two weeks of scrimmages before they begin their DVCHC schedule. Next Saturday 09/29 they will host their annual Recruiting event. Then on Friday 10/05 they host the Tier I U19 Quakers.
