Blue Hens Unable to Unseat Reigning Champions

Meagan McKinley

They weren’t the top seed in the tournament, but they were the reigning champions. So when the University of Delaware women’s ice hockey team took the ice against Liberty University, they knew they had a battle before them.

Originally scheduled for 2:30, the championship game was delayed on Sunday, March 17 until 3:20 to accommodate a charity event at the Cambria County War Memorial ice arena. It wasn’t enough time for the Blue Hens to get a solid battle plan together.

Liberty took control of the game early enough that Courtney Marino’s only goal was a desperate attempt to overcome what would be a 5-1 loss by the Blue Hens.

Goalies Morgan Cullen and Kendall Smythe combined for a total of 50 saves, though it wasn’t enough.

On Monday, the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) announced the Division II regular season awards, naming senior forward and assistant captain Carlie Smythe to the 2nd Team All-American.

The team will announce captains for the 2019-2020 season later this spring.