Drexel University
James Madison
No. 18 Dragons Edged by No. 7 James Madison, 2-1
10/3/2008 7:24:20 PM | Field Hockey
Harrisonburg, Va. - Drexel field hockey struck first with an early goal but the seventh-ranked Dukes fought back to defeat the 18th-ranked Dragons, 2-1. The win snapped Drexel's four-game winning streak and dropped the Dragons' record to 8-3 (1-1 CAA). All three of Drexel's losses this season have come at the hands of teams that are currently nationally ranked. James Madison improved to 9-1 (3-0 CAA) with the victory.
The Dragons continued their habit of scoring early as Drexel stunned the Colonial Athletic Association's best defense with an early goal. Less than five minutes into the game, Susan Ciufo sent a hard pass across the middle of the arc from the left to Jen Cairone who redirected the ball from the right post into the cage past 2007 CAA Player of the Year, goalie Kelsey Cutchins. The goal was Cairone's first in five games as the junior had gotten off to a blazing start with five goals in her first six games of the season.
Drexel's defense fought off several James Madison charges with goalie Collen McAndrew making four saves before the Dukes broke through with six minutes remaining in the half as Lauren Walls fired a shot directly off of a penalty corner to knot the score, 1-1. With just two minutes left in the half, Dolores de Rooij scored on a Lauren Walls assist in what would prove to be the game-winning goal.
The Dragons had opportunities in the second half but were turned away by the Dukes' defense. McAndrew kept Drexel in the game as she broke up a pair of breakaway opportunities in the second half as the Dragons pushed up looking for the equalizing goal. The senior finished the game with eight saves while Cutchins made five stops.
The Dragons will look to bounce back on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1:00 p.m. as Drexel will finish its five-game road trip at Virginia Commonwealth.
