Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Duke
No. 4 Duke Uses Big Second Half to Pull Away from Dragons
10/10/2006 6:06:04 PM | Field Hockey
Philadelphia – Drexel Field Hockey lost 5-1 to No. 4 Duke in a non-conference game played at Buckley Field. The Blue Devils scored four times in the second half to secure the victory. Drexel dropped to 6-8 on the season while Duke improved to 11-3.
Drexel came out strong and played the Blue Devils even for much of the first half. Drexel got the best scoring chance early in the game when Amanda Kicera (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) received a pass as she slashed toward the goal. Kicera was met by charging Blue Devil goalie Caitlyn Williams. The Drexel forward eluded the Williams but fired a shot that was just wide of the cage. Duke responded by earning three consecutive penalty corners but the Drexel defense blocked every shot attempt the corners generated. It appeared that there would be no score in the first half until Duke was awarded a penalty corner with no time remaining in the period. The Blue Devils converted as Amy Stopford fired a shot from the top of the arc that beat Drexel goalie Colleen McAndrew (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom).
The second half featured Duke forward Marian Dickinson as she catapulted the Blue Devils to victory with three consecutive goals to start the period. For the game, Dickinson recorded seven points. Duke's Laura Suchoski added a goal with ten minutes remaining to extend the Blue Devils' lead to 5-0. The Dragons would finally solve the Duke defense as Kicera earned control of the ball at the left edge of the arc and dribbled toward the middle to fire a shot that eluded Williams. Kicera has now scored in each of the last two games for Drexel.
McAndrew made five saves in goal for Drexel while Williams stopped two. Duke held a 12-5 advantage in shots and a 9-3 edge in penalty corners.
Drexel will return to Buckley Field on Sunday, Oct. 15 to take on University City rival Penn at 2:30 p.m.
