The title of this article can be a bit misleading, because you may think of the Newark found in New Jersey. This article has nothing to do with the New Jersey Devils of the NHL who play in that city, but instead it has everything to do with the University of Delaware Blue Hens playing in Newark, Delaware. Tonight, the first match for the Women’s Hockey program in the NCAA history marked the Long Island University Sharks Welcomed in Newark, where a number of scoops happened. Of course everyone wanted a first victory in the first match of Delaware, but there were other scoops to reach before that could happen. Let’s view it!
We will in the target fold that Mattie Robitzer was given the opportunity to step into the Blue Hens in a historic first victory. The 21-year-old resident of Pennsylvania went to Delaware at Northeastern University, where she had played four games and played in those performances with 1-1-0. She was a peak with the Philadelphia Junior Flyers U19 Women’s Program In 2022-23 before they connect in the northeastern one, but this season she will guard the net for the Blue Hens!
Robitzer’s clean sheet would last through the opening period because she made eight Saves to keep the score at 0-0. However, the shot of 8-5 for Long Island University does not tell the full story, because Liu bore the piece in the first period. Delaware received three Power-Plays in the opening frame where they recorded four shots. In the remaining 14 minutes they only generated one shot at five-five. That effort should improve if they won their first competition. Let’s go to the second period!
Liu would only get their first power play in the middle frame, because the resident of Ottawa Francesca Barresi was called up for body checking as the very first NCAA penalty from Delaware. Although nobody will celebrate that piece of history, it was made worse when Liu’s Sam Mathe scored on the Power play at 3:37 of the second period when Delaware surrendered their very first NCAA goal. Again, nobody will celebrate that historic moment on the Delaware side, but it happened.
The gap would get a bit deeper for the blue chickens when Liu’s Lauren Karl scored at 11:56 while the sharks were 2-0. Again, Liu wore the piece in the second period while he was powered by a few power plays when she surpassed Delaware 16-7 in the period. Robitzer stopped 14 shots, but that shortage with two goals should be erased in the third period if Delaware would celebrate a first victory.
Delaware’s effort was certainly there in the third period when she skated hard, pulled four penalties and spread Liu’s Clara Kammholz with shots. Although they were denied during their first two power plays, the Blue Hens kept their push and they would finally be rewarded for that work just after the half point of the period.
Francesca Barresi made the Power-Play goal against Delaware with her in the Sin Bin when she defeated Kammholz at 12:04 for the very first Delaware goal at the NCAA Division-1 level when she brought the shortage back to 2-1! Barresi has done an excellent job by forcing the turnover in the Delaware Blue Line against the aforementioned Lauren Karl, and she was on her way to the races because the Liu defense could not catch her. Barresi’s goal was not supported and is now part of the history of the blue chickens!
Not for nothing, the Barresi, the former senators of Ottawa Lady, Vooruit, was the first recruit that tied itself To the New Delaware program. The 18-year-old Canadian was an alternative captain at the Lady Sens last season where she scored eight goals and added eleven helpers in 33 games at the OWHL U22 AA level. She officially committed and signed at the Blue Hens in November, so the player to become a member of the program is now in the history books as his first goal scorer!
Besides the excitement of that goal, the Blue Hens would not get closer, because Liu scored an empty net with 29 seconds to play a 3-1 match before they added a short goal with 12 seconds left to close the book for a 4-1 win over Delaware. There were no parties for a first victory in their first game, but we got to see a big goal while the program is starting to build up to an NCAA championship in the future. There are a number of positives that the Blue Hens can get from tonight’s efforts, but it is exciting to officially see the newest team of the NCAA on the ice! Furthermore and ahead!
Congratulations to the Delaware Blue Hens for a solid first game and on the Francesca “Franki” Barresi born in Ottawa for her big goal! Game two in their history will go in a rematch against Long Island University tomorrow afternoon, so we will see if Delaware can throw that “first win” gorilla of their back at 2 p.m. when they are back on the ice!
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
#History #Newark