Drexel University
Delaware
Dragons Deal Delaware Devastating Defeat
10/27/2006 6:23:17 PM | Field Hockey
Philadelphia – Drexel Field Hockey won a Colonial Athletic Association game at Buckley Field over rival Delaware, 2-1. The loss complicates Delaware's hopes of making the post-season CAA tournament as the Blue Hens dropped to 6-11 overall and 3-5 in the CAA. Drexel improved to 7-11 overall and 1-6 in CAA play. Prior to the game, Drexel honored seniors Heather Bloemker (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks East), Linsey Manket (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus Academy), Krystle Nagle (Laurel Run, Pa./Coughlin), Cassandra Prentiss (Nanticoke, Pa./Nanticoke) and Karie Walton (Spring City, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) as part of Senior Day festivities.
The Dragons came out of the gate strong as they generated multiple chances in the arc. Drexel opened the scoring as Emily Horvat (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) sent a centering pass from the right side into the middle of the arc where freshman Jennifer Bolger (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) deflected it past Delaware goalie Nikki Rhoads. Bolger almost added another in the first half when she fired a shot off a penalty corner that deflected off a Delaware stick then hit the post and caromed harmlessly away. The Drexel defense held the Blue Hens' offense at bay as senior backs, Bloemker, Prentiss and Walton allowed Delaware just four shots in the opening period.
After the intermission, Drexel fought off Delaware's attack to keep its 1-0 lead intact. Ten minutes into the second half, Delaware's Casey Howard collected a deflection in front of the cage but Drexel goalie Colleen McAndrew (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) made a kick save at point-blank range. Delaware continued its offensive push but Sarah Gostomski (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and Amy Palilonis (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock) continued to drive the play toward Drexel's offensive end from midfield. With less than two minutes to play, Drexel seemed to seal the victory when Gostomski fired a shot off a penalty corner that Catherine Chiara (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) deflected toward the cage. Prentiss, who started the penalty corner play, redirected the ball past Rhoads. With less than 90 seconds remaining, it looked as though the game was over until Delaware answered almost immediately as Tori Karsten deflected a pass from Rachel Schexnayder into the cage to pull the Blue Hens to within a goal. Drexel was able to keep the ball on its offensive end for the remainder of the game to clinch its first conference win of the season.
For the game, Drexel out shot Delaware, 15-11, and held an 8-5 edge on penalty corners. McAndrew made four saves for Drexel while Rhoades stopped five Drexel shots.
Drexel wraps up its season at Towson in another Colonial Athletic Association game on Sunday, Oct. 29. Game time is 1:00 p.m.
