Drexel University
Saint Joseph's
Dragons' Offense Impressive in 5-1 Win over Saint Joseph's
9/17/2008 5:39:21 PM | Field Hockey
Philadelphia - The Drexel field hockey team scored four first-half goals in route to a 5-1 victory over Saint Joseph's at Buckley Field. Five different players registered goals for the Dragons who pushed their record to 5-2. The Hawks, who defeated two Colonial Athletic Association teams on the road last weekend, dropped to 5-2 on the season with the loss.
Drexel opened the scoring early as Carolina Gibernau notched her first goal of the season. The junior rifled a reverse shot into the right side of the cage to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead. Less than 10 minutes later, Kim Tunell sent a penalty corner to her left where Jennifer Bolger fired a perfectly placed shot just inside the right post to double the lead. With 13 minutes remaining in the half, freshman Elizabeth Koch registered her first career goal when she deflected a Jen Cairone shot at the right post. Less than four minutes later, Bolger fired another shot off of a penalty corner from the left side of the arc. The Hawks' goalie went down to save the ball but Susan Ciufo deflected the ball above the goalie before the shot could be saved. The ball hit the net and the Dragons had a 4-0 advantage heading into halftime.
After the break, Head Coach Denise Zelenak utilized her bench as 18 different players saw action in the half. The Hawks mounted opportunities to score, but the Drexel defense held them back before Drexel tacked another goal on the board. Christina Mastropaolo served a penalty corner to Gibernau who settled the ball for Tunell. The sophomore fired a shot that was deflected into the goal by a defender's stick. With eight minutes left, Saint Joseph's headed toward the goal on a two-on-zero break. Drexel goalie Colleen McAndrew charged the oncoming offensive players. The ball handler sent a pass across the front of the goal that McAndrew dove and deflected with the end of her stick to squash the opportunity. With less than a minute remaining, Saint Joseph's finally got on the board as the Hawks scored on a scramble in front of the cage on their 12th penalty corner of the game.
Drexel outshot the Hawks, 16-11, for the game, including an 11-2 edge in the opening half. Saint Joseph's earned 12 penalty corners to the Dragons' nine. McAndrew made four saves in recording her fifth win of the season.
Drexel will begin a five-game road trip on Sunday, Sept. 21 at Lafayette. Game time is noon.
