NEWARK, Del. - Junior Josie Mae Gruendel scored her third goal of the season, but William & Mary field hockey suffered a 6-1 setback at former CAA rival Delaware on Friday afternoon.
 
Trailing 3-0 at the half, Gruendel drew the Tribe within a goal in the 40th minute. She carried the ball from the 25-yard line toward the endline and flicked a shot on goal that beat UD goalkeeper Kristi Merashoff to the near post to close the gap to 3-1.
 
The Tribe (1-6) had another great chance at the end of the third to narrow the margin even more. W&M generated a penalty corner in the closing seconds, but junior Emme Schwartz's shot from the left side of the circle was blocked by Merashoff's kick save. The UD goalkeeper then pushed the ball out of play to end the threat.
 
Delaware scored three times in the final frame to put the game away. Off a penalty corner, Linde van Leeuwen sent a pass to the back post where Kate Fiest redirected it in just over three minute into the fourth quarter. Alexa Michielsen and Sarah Rigual scored in the 55th and 58th minutes for the final scoreline.
 
The Blue Hens (4-5) held a 20-6 advantage in shots, 16-3 in shots on goal, and 8-4 in penalty corners. Junior goalkeeper Alexandra de Jesus totaled nine saves in nearly 52 minutes of action for the Tribe, while Schwartz topped the team with three shots.
 
Delaware wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, cashing in an early penalty corner just over a minute into the game. Iris Bekker scored on the game's initial shot off an pass from Rachael Whitehead.
 
The Blue Hens doubled their lead before the end of the opening quarter as Amanda Rattay scored in the 11th minute.
 
W&M's best chance of the opening half came on a penalty corner in the 25th minute. Unfortunately both of Schwartz's shots from the edge of the circle were blocked.
 
Livia van't Hek increased UD's lead to 3-0 with a goal in the 22nd minute. Fiester fed the ball to the back post where van't Hek redirected it in.
 
Up Next
The Tribe returns home to host No. 5 Liberty on Sunday, Sept. 28. The match carries at noon start time from Busch Field and will be broadcast on FloCollege.