Field Hockey Wins CAA Championship Title, Defeats Northeastern 2-1

Sunday, November 4

Buckley Field

3:00

Drexel University

(15-6;5-2)

Northeastern

(14-6;5-2)

OT 3

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Field Hockey Wins CAA Championship Title, Defeats Northeastern 2-1

11/4/2012 5:03:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

Philadelphia – Drexel University's field hockey team has been crowned the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Champion for the first time in program history with a 2-1 overtime victory against the second-seeded Northeastern Huskies on the Dragons' home turf at Buckley Field. The game-winning goal came in the 73^rd minute of play by sophomore Christina Conrad with the assist by senior captain Amanda Fleischut off of a penalty corner. The Dragons (15-6) have also earned their first automatic berth to the 2012 NCAA Field Hockey Championship.

Northeastern (14-6) put pressure on the Dragons early scoring the game's first goal just over four minutes into the opening half. The Huskies' Crystal Poland sprinted down the left side of the field before dishing a pass to teammate Deirdre Duke, who flicked the ball into the upper netting of the cage. Both teams continued to spread the field producing solid scoring opportunities inside the circle. Drexel earned an offensive penalty corner with less than five minutes remaining before halftime. Senior Amanda Fleischut fired a shot from the top of the circle, which was also deflected off of Northeastern's defender, before crossing the goal line to tie the score, 1-1. The Huskies held a slim advantage in shots, 6-5, in the first half and had four penalty corners to Drexel's two.

After 35 minutes of scoreless play in the second half, with the help of a defensive save by Kristen Focht in the 63^rd minute of play, the Dragons and Huskies entered overtime. Drexel maintained possession off the whistle earning two consecutive penalty corners. On the second attempt, Fleischut faked the shot and passed the ball to Conrad who blasted the ball past opposing goalkeeper Lizzie Priest for the game-winning goal, 2-1.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jantien Gunter continued to drive the backfield stepping up for a number of key clears and stacks throughout the game. Gunter finished with five saves and now has 116 stops on the season.

Following the game, the Colonial Athletic Association gave out awards and trophies to the 2012 Field Hockey All-Tournament Team, which included Lauren Hibshman, Lindsay McArdle and Jantien Gunter. Drexel's Amanda Fleischut was named the Most Outstanding Performer for her exceptional play throughout the CAA Championship.

The Dragons will enter the NCAA Field Hockey Championship for the second time in program history. Drexel earned an at-large bid in 2009. The NCAA will host a selection show on November 6 at 8:00 p.m. releasing the eight automatic qualifiers along with the eight at-large bids for the 16-team playing field on NCAA.com. Please click here to view the live show.