Drexel University
Richmond
Mastropaolo Leads Dragons Past Richmond, 3-2
9/11/2009 7:57:06 PM | Field Hockey
Box Score
Philadelphia - Christina Mastropaolo led the Dragons with a first half hat trick as Drexel defeated Richmond, 3-2, to improve to 4-0 this season. The victory was the 11th straight for Drexel at the friendly confines of Buckley Field. Susan Ciufo and Sofia Sanguinetti tallied assists in the win.
Mastropaolo opened the game's scoring thanks in large part to the vision of Sanguinetti. The sophomore controlled the ball deep in the Dragons' own end but used some free space to lift a pass high in the air and deep into the Spiders' defensive zone. Mastropaolo chased the ball down and dodged a charging Jacki Raithel to poke the ball into the empty cage. Richmond answered as senior Sarah Blythe-Wood blasted a shot off a broken corner to tie the score. Mastropaolo notched her second after firing a shot from the left side and receiving a pass from Susan Ciufo in the middle. She completed her hat trick when a loose ball in the middle of the circle found Mastropaolo's stick. The junior rocketed another ball past Raithel to give the Dragons a 3-1 edge into halftime.
The second half's only score came on a hard shot off the stick of Blythe-Wood that Phillips deflected but still found the cage. Drexel would hold off the Spiders' late charges to seal the victory. Drexel outshot Richmond, 11-7, with just three players totaling all of the Dragons' shots. The Spiders held a 6-3 edge on penalty corners. Raithel made seven saves for the visitors while Phillips stopped three for the Dragons.
Drexel will face Saint Joseph's at Buckley Field on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 2:00 p.m.
