No. 1 Maryland Ends Drexel's NCAA Tournament Run

Sunday, November 15

College Park, Md.

2:00

Drexel University

Maryland

No. 1 Maryland Ends Drexel's NCAA Tournament Run

11/15/2009 2:00:22 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

College Park, Md. - Drexel fell to defending national champion and top-ranked Maryland, 5-0, in the second round of the NCAA Championship. Jenna Phillips had one of her finest days in her young collegiate career as the freshman made a career-high 16 saves. With the win Maryland improved to 22-0 on the season as the Terrapins advance to the NCAA Final Four while the Dragons' season ends at 19-4.

Maryland assaulted the Drexel cage early but Drexel goalie Jenna Phillips was up to the task making seven saves including several on penalty corners. Finally the Terrapins broke through as Nicole Murracco poked home a rebound off of her own shot. Murracco added a second when she deflected a long pass in from the right side to close the scoring for the half.

After a Katie O'Donnell goal, Drexel generated its first penalty corner of the game but a Kim Tunell shot was turned away by goalie Alicia Grater. The Dragons earned another penaty corner later in the half but another Tunell shot was blocked by the Maryland defense. With both coaches substituting frequently, Maryland added two goals in the final five minutes of the game to end the game.

Drexel did not allow a goal in any of the Terrapins' 15 penalty corners as Phillips made several diving saves with her blocker against lift-specialist Emma Thomas. For the Dragons the season ends was a number of program firsts. The team won the Colonial Athletic Association regular season title, earned its first NCAA Tournament berth and picked up its first NCAA Tournament victory. The team's 19 victories breaks last season's record of 16 wins.