The University of Delaware field hockey team's history-making 2016 season ended on November 20th with a 3-2 win over No. 4 ranked North Carolina to capture the Hen's first-ever NCAA field hockey crown. The No. 8 ranked Blue Hens stellar 2016 season also saw the team racked up their 4th consecutive CAA title while outscoring their opponents by a 100-39 margin over the course of the season. - (Photo by Mark Campbell)

Dec. 9: Championship celebration

Article by UD Athletics staff Photo by Mark Campbell December 06, 2016

UD to celebrate field hockey team’s national championship

The University of Delaware will honor the national champion Blue Hens field hockey team on Friday, Dec. 9, with a public celebration event at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The event is free and open to the public and doors will open at 4:30 p.m., with the celebration beginning at 5 p.m.

“Celebrating an accomplishment such as winning the national championship is always more fun with others,” said Rolf van de Kerkhof, UD head coach. “We invite the entire community to help us in celebrating this very special moment in University of Delaware history.”

The celebration will include remarks from Van de Kerkhof and a few of his student-athletes. Additionally, those in attendance will receive a special commemorative giveaway and will have the opportunity to take photos with the NCAA Division I national championship and Colonial Athletic Association trophies.

The Blue Hens picked up the first NCAA tournament title in program history on Nov. 20 and finished the year with a 19-game winning streak and an overall mark of 23-2 while collecting their fourth straight CAA tournament crown.

UD has accumulated numerous individual honors as well this season, as Van de Kerkhof was tabbed the CAA and ECAC coach of the year and sophomore Greta Nauck garnered NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region, CAA and ECAC player of the year accolades.