Women's Soccer Battles Delaware to a Scoreless Draw

Saturday, October 4

Vidas Field

1:00

Drexel University

5-5-2 (2-0-1)

Delaware - Alumni Day

6-5-1 (2-0-1)

OT 1

OT 2

Delaware

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Soccer Battles Delaware to a Scoreless Draw

10/4/2014 2:42:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Philadelphia, Pa. - The Drexel women's soccer team battled to a scoreless draw with conference rival Delaware on Alumni Day at Vidas Field Saturday afternoon. With the tie, the Dragons extend their unbeaten streak to six games.

Drexel dominated play in the first half as they got off seven shots to the Blue Hens' one. In the 25th minute, Melissa Chapman attempted a header off a corner kick from Alyssa Findlay, but the shot went high. Less than six minutes later, Gabby Dixon broke free from her defender in the box and got off a shot but it was knocked down by another Delaware defender. Seconds later, Dixon found the ball again and sent one towards the net, but Delaware keeper Kailyn Rekos pulled it down. Despite these attempts, the Dragons and the Blue Hens entered the half tied with the game still scoreless.

The second half showed much more balanced play between Drexel and Delaware. Each team made seven attempts each over the course of the period. Delaware had more opportunities in the way of corner kicks during this half. Whereas the Dragons had dominated in the corner kick count, 5-0 in the first half, Delaware had six corner attempts to Drexel's three in the second half. In spite of these opportunites, neither team was able to score in regulation which sent the game to its first overtime.

Delaware gained possesion quickly in the first overtime, as Delaware's Andrea Arnold took the ball down towards the Drexel goal just 33 seconds after the start of the period. Arnold shot was blocked by the Drexel defense, but resulted in a corner kick. Delaware's Maddy Parker took the corner for the Blue Hens, sending it into the box to Natalie Zelenky who headed it wide of the net. Drexel took over possession and two minutes later Megan Hammaker made an attempt that was knocked down by a Delaware defender. Civanni Moss was able to make another attempt a minute later, but it went wide of the goal. As the Blue Hens regained possession, junior keeper Kelsie Fye made two crucial saves to keep the Dragons in the game. In the 96th minute Fye saved a shot from Delaware's Parker. Just 20 seconds later, Delaware's Rachel Vaccaro made a strong attempt at the net that Fye was able to knock down with a diving save to her right. As neither team was able to score, the game proceeded to its second overtime.

Drexel got off two more shots in the second overtime, but to no avail. The Dragons and Blue Hens completed the game in a draw after 110 minutes of play.

Fye, who tallied seven saves in the draw, has now passed Kaitlin Bond for the record for consecutive minutes without allowing a goal. Fye's last goal allowed came 549 minutes ago in the 31st minute of Drexel's two-overtime draw with Syracuse on Sept. 14. The previous record held by Bond was for 505 minutes without allowing a goal. By holding Delaware scoreless, Fye and the Drexel defense also extend their shutout streak to five games in a row.

Drexel outshot Delaware on the game, 19-13. The tie moves Drexel to 5-5-2 overall, while Delaware moves to 6-5-1. Both teams remain tied in Colonial Athletic Association action with a record of 2-0-1 each.

Before the game, junior Lauren Stollar was honored as the recipient of the Laura Meikle Koch Coaches' Award and La Foundation Scholarship. The award is named in memory of the former Drexel standout who passed away in 2008 at the age of 28 after losing her courageous battle with cancer. Meikle Koch's parents, Cam and Sandy, as well as other members of the Meikle family presented Stollar with the award prior to the start of Saturday's game.

Next up, the Dragons hit the road to visit their newest conference opponent, Elon, on Friday, Oct. 10 at 7:00 p.m. Following that, Drexel will travel to William & Mary for a 2:00 game on Sunday, Oct. 12.