Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Rutgers
Chiara Hat Trick Caps Drexel's Comeback Win Over Rutgers
9/1/2006 5:30:32 PM | Field Hockey
Philadelphia – Drexel field hockey opened its season with a 5-4 win over Rutgers University after trailing, 3-1, in the first half. Sophomore Catherine Chiara (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) scored three goals in her first career start as the Dragons clawed their way from a two-goal deficit to a 5-3 edge late in the second half. Drexel held on to defeat the Big East foe, 5-4, to start its season at 1-0.
Chiara proved she has recovered from a season-ending injury suffered in 2005 as she evened the contest, 1-1, after dribbling around a charging Rutgers' goalie and firing a shot to the back of the cage. A pair of Rutgers goals regained the lead for the Scarlet Knights as Drexel Head Coach Denise Zelenak called a timeout after Kristen Johnson's second goal of the game gave Rutgers a 3-1 advantage. Substitute Bronwyn Cox (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) scored her first career goal just minutes later to slim the Scarlet Knights' lead to just one goal.
After halftime, Drexel completed the comeback with a flurry of goals. Freshman Jennifer Bolger (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) fired a shot that found Chiara's stick in front of the cage. Chiara deftly deflected the shot into the corner of the net to even the score. Senior Heather Bloemker (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks East) gave the Dragons the lead when she hammered a penalty corner past Rutgers' goalie Leslie Kelly in the 48th minute. Just 57 seconds later, Chiara once again dribbled around a Rutgers' goalie to fire a shot into the cage. A late goal by Amy Lewis, her second of the game, brought the Scarlet Knights back to within one. Rutgers had one last chance with just 20 seconds remaining but sophomore goalie Colleen McAndrew (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) broke up a breakaway opportunity to secure the Drexel win.
McAndrew made five saves while Rutgers' starting goalie Rosalyn Wentko recorded three. Goalie Leslie Kelly entered the game at halftime and took the loss. Rutgers held a 14-13 edge in shots while Drexel was awarded 11 penalty corners to the Scarlet Knights' eight.
Drexel will continue its season opening three-game homestand on Aug. 30 when the Dragons will take on city rival La Salle at 4:00 p.m. at Buckley Field.
