By Meagan McKinley
NEWARK — On senior day in front of the largest (and loudest) crowd at the Fred Rust Ice arena this year, the Blue Hens women’s ice hockey team ended its regular season fending off a short-handed Rowan University with a dramatic 6-5 win.
After three tense periods of back-and-forth scoring, Emily Hockey — ain’t that destiny in a name — scored the game-winner, flicking the puck in from the circle with little more than a minute to play.
Senior twins Carlie and Kendall Smythe — another great hockey name — led the University of Delaware.
Kendall Smythe, the team’s goaltender, set the defensive tone a key deflection early in the game and Rowan opened scoring midway through the first period when sophomore defender Danielle Felicioli scored with assists from freshman Erin Campbell and Sophomore Cassie Gravelle. Just 18 seconds later Gravelle netted a goal of her own that shoved Smythe backwards into her own net.
If the first period seemed conservative in shot attempts, factor this: Neither Delaware nor Rowan was able to put up full rosters. Usually, six players take the ice for either team, five skaters and a goalie. Aside from a goalkeeper, Rowan had only nine players – six forwards and three defender – suited up. Delaware had nine forwards and four defenders. Neither had a backup goalie on the bench.
With no ice cut between periods, just a short pause, Delaware would start the second period on the power play. Rowan’s Katie Driscoll served a two-minute minor for a cross check penalty called at the first period horn. The Hens took advantage. Callen Small bounced one past the Rowan goalie, sophomore Emily Render, to cut the Owls’ lead to one.
Hockey tied the game at two for Delaware off a feed from Carlie Smythe three and half minutes later.
Rowan’s Amber Spearnock was called on holding at 14:34, much to the dismay of a vocal coach. The Owls held off the Hens for the power play; Gravelle shoved in past Smythe for a 3-2 lead.
Kendall Dubin fired one over the goalie’s shoulder just twenty seconds later to tie at three; Delaware would take the 4-3 lead on a power play goal by Captain Mary Claire Newtown three minutes later after killing off a penalty of their own. Hens’ Morgan Cullen served for hooking while Rowan forward Audrey Feltner was called on body-contact.
Delaware’s Kaelen Speck scored early in the third to extend the Blue Hens’ lead to 5-3.
Rowan made headway three minutes with a goal from Julie David and Gravelle, with her third goal of the night, tied the game at 5-5 with eight minutes to play.
A tense ten minutes passed as the teams went back and forth, the goalies going stop for stop.
Kendall Smythe had two flashy stick saves, one off the blade and one off the handle,
Hockey (and I do mean the person) potted the game winning goal for Delaware with a minute and nine seconds left.
Overall, Delaware outshot Rowan 41-28. Delaware’s top scorer was C. Smythe with three assists, though ten out of their thirteen skaters put up points.
Delaware next plays in the College Hockey East Women’s Division 2 playoffs, facing top-seeded Mercyhurst on March 16 in Johnstown, PA. The Hens are seeded 4th. The winner of that game will face the winner of Liberty University versus University of Buffalo for a berth in the Championship tournament in Dallas.