Scouting Delaware

Delaware enters the midweek game with back-to-back wins under its belt. The Blue Hens improved to 3-3 over the past week with wins over La Salle, and most recently an 11-8 victory over Villanova. Delaware has yet to lose at home this season and has not started conference play.

The Blue Hens average just over 11 goals per game, while only allowing 9.8 to their opponent. Casey Lyons leads the attack with 15 goals and five assists. Caitlyn McCartney is just behind her with 13 goals, while also pacing the team with 15 draws.

On defense, Erin Wein and Lizzie Duffey have been the biggest threats statistically, as Wein has caused 13 turnovers and picked up 10 ground balls, and Duffey has tallied 11 and 13 herself.

In goal, Tori Zorovich has taken over in the last two games, starting against Villanova and playing 57 minutes against La Salle, though she has appeared in four games total. Zorovich boasts a 2-0 record and has made 16 saves, good for a .381 percentage.

Hokie Notes

-- Against No. 6 Duke, the Hokie defense forced the Blue Devils into a season-high 18 turnovers with their average of 10 coming in the first half, also holding them to a season-low four first-half goals.

-- Four Hokies rank among the top 30 in the nation in their respective categories. Junior Meg Bartley ranks the highest of the group, sitting at No. 12 in the country averaging 5.50 draws per game.

-- Redshirt senior Julia Heaps set a career high with five goals and seven points in the season opener at James Madison.

-- Junior Megan Will needs eight goals to break onto Tech’s all-time scoring list.

-- Redshirt senior Julia Heaps became the second Hokie on the 2014 roster to rank among the all-time best as her three assists against High Point moved her into tenth place.

-- Two players (Bartley, Heaps) have scored in every game so far this season, while junior Megan Will is on an 11-game streak dating back to last season.

-- In this week’s polls, seven of Tech’s opponents are ranked nationally, with another receiving votes.

-- The Hokies return six starters from last season, including five of the team’s top seven scorers from a year ago.

-- Seniors Julia Heaps, Kelly Naslonski, Lindsay Roche and Becca Niles captain the Hokies this season.

-- Tech welcomes 10 freshmen this season, as well as two new assistant coaches.

Last Time Out

Tech is coming off of a 14-6 loss to No. 6 Duke at home that, despite the score, saw an impressive performance from freshman goalie Meagh Graham and the defensive unit. The Hokies held Duke to a season-low four first-half goals and forced 10 turnovers in the opening period, but headed into the break down 4-1.

Neither team scored in the opening ten minuts of the second half, but once Duke was able to get on the board it went on to put in four straight before the Hokies were able to get anything going. Tech finished the game forcing the Blue Devils to make a season-high 18 turnovers, but the 17 of its own helped the game go in Duke’s favor.

Redshirt senior Julia Heaps led the Hokies with two goals, while sophomore Jessi Thon added two points and caused four turnovers. Freshman goalie Meagh Graham caused three turnovers and grabbed six ground balls, also making eight saves.

The Nation’s Elite

Four Hokies rank among the top players in the nation in their respective categories. Junior Meg Bartley boasts the highest ranking, sitting in 12th with a 5.50 draws average. Freshman Meagh Graham ranks 13th in the country averaging 3.33 ground balls per game, as well as 17th with 46 total saves this season. Rounding out the top 30 in points are redshirt senior Julia Heaps and junior Megan Will, who are tied for 28th with 24 points each.