NEWARK — The Delaware field hockey team had its share of ups and downs this fall.

But the Blue Hens were at their best when it mattered most.

Second-seeded Delaware rolled to a 6-1 victory over No. 4 Drexel to capture its fourth straight Colonial Athletic Association Tournament championship on Sunday afternoon at Rullo Stadium.

It was the third time in the last four games that Delaware (9-11) has scored six goals. The Hens won their two CAA tourney games by a combined 12-2.
Delaware earned the league’s automatic NCAA Division I tournament berth for the 10th time and for the ninth time in the last 10 years.

The Hens will face Lehigh in an NCAA play-in round game on Wednesday at North Carolina. The contest is slated for 2 p.m.  at Karen Shelton Stadium .

The winner of the contest then  plays top-seeded North Carolina on Friday.

Lehigh finished the season 13-7 overall and defeated Boston U., 2-1 in OT, in the Patriot League championship game.

On Sunday, Delmar High grad Ashlyn Carr was named the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Performer and was joined by Delaware teammates Julia Duffhuis, Grace Hoepfner, and Kiki Oudshoorn on the all-tournament team.

Six players scored goals in Sunday’s victory. Oudshoorn got the Hens on the board with a goal 33 seconds into the game.

Noelle Sabbagh (Cape Henlopen) and Duffhuis added goals in the first quarter’s 12th and 13th minutes.

The Blue Hens out shot the Dragons 24-14, including a 16-9 shots-on-goal advantage. Goalie Lizzie Gaebel was credited with the decision, making eight saves.