The Tribe field hockey team scored twice Friday in the Colonial Athletic Association Semifinals, but was unable to overcome top-seeded and 17th-ranked Delaware, falling 4-2.  The Tribe finished its season at 8-11 overall and 3-3 in the CAA, and ranked in the top-four of the conference for the second year in a row.

After the high-powered Blue Hens offense scored twice relatively early in the first half, junior Lindsey Buckheit (East Greenwich, R.I.) put in her first goal of the year in the 33rd minute.  Off of a penalty corner, senior Taylor Hodge (Louisville, Ky.) took a shot that was saved by Delaware, but Buckheit was crashing into the circle and gathered in the rebound to score.  She is the 13th different player to score this season for the Tribe.

Delaware scored twice more, right before and right after the half, to go up 4-1, but from there the Tribe defense stiffened considerably, and stonewalled 14 more attempts to give their offense a fighting chance.  Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Cate Johnson (Charlottesville, Va.) made a career-high 11 saves in the game, including eight in the second-half alone.  Junior Kelsea Hull (Fredericksburg, Va.) also worked to keep the goal clear, making her third defensive save of the season early in the 52nd minute.  Finally, after working all game long, sophomore Esty Byrd (Charlotte, N.C.) put another one in in the 68th minute.  Taking the ball herself, she cracked a rocket from 15 yards out that sailed past the Delaware goalkeep, and scored for the third time this season.

While the games are over, the Tribe players and staff will await word on further post-season honors in the coming weeks and months.  Traditionally, two players will earn a spot on the CAA All-Tournament team (to be announced Sunday), while all-region, all-state, and All-America lists will be published over the next several weeks.  In late February, the NFHCA will announce its team and individual All-Academic honorees.