Drexel University
Stanford
Dragons Use Penalty Corners to Down Stanford, 3-1
8/30/2008 6:07:42 PM | Field Hockey
Stanford, Calif. – The Drexel Field Hockey team converted three penalty corners to defeat Stanford in the Dragons' season-opener, 3-1. Three different Dragons scored in the first half as Drexel outshot the Cardinal, 18-9, for the game. The game was the first of two for Drexel in a season-opening West Coast trip as the Dragons face California on Monday, Sept. 1.
The game started with a midfield battle until 27:35 remained in the first half when the Dragons earned their first penalty corner of the day off of a Susan Ciufo shot. Jordan Freese sent the corner to Carolina Gibernau who settled the ball for Kim Tunell. The sophomore midfielder fired a shot straight at goal that deflected off of goalie Alessandra Moss and into the back of the cage. Immediately after the goal, Stanford attempted to tie the game but Midori Uehara's shot was turned away by Drexel goalie Colleen McAndrew.
Less than four minutes later, Megan Keller earned a penalty corner as she dribbed into the arc and drew a foul. On the ensuing corner, Sofia Sanguinetti lifted a shot that was turned away but Ciufo collected the rebound and calmly dribbled to the middle where she fired a shot into the empty cage for a goal that doubled the Drexel lead.
With just two minutes remaining in the first half, Drexel earned another penalty corner. Gibernau settled Freese's corner as Tunell stepped up to take another shot. Instead, Tunell sent the ball to her left where waiting teammate Jennifer Bolger fired a shot that rocketed into the back of the cage to send the Dragons to halftime with a 3-0 lead.
The Cardinal pulled one goal closer as Camille Gandhi sent a pass to the right side of the arc where Katherine Donner fired a shot high that flew past the blocker of goalie Colleen McAndrew. The Dragons nearly got the goal right back as Jen Cairone sent a pass to a breaking Ciufo who dribbled the ball around the goalie but was taken out by charging goalie Beth Ridley. A penalty stroke was awarded for Drexel as Gibernau stepped up to take the stroke. Gibernau lifted a shot to the left that was saved by a sprawling Ridley who used her stick to send the ball just wide of the cage.
McAndrew picked up the victory in goal for Drexel as she made six saves. Moss was charged with the loss as she gave up two goals and made two saves. Ridley stopped nine shots in relief.
Drexel will face another NorPac opponent, California, on Monday, Sept. 1. Game time is 4:00 p.m. EST.
