Field Hockey Drops Sunday Contest to JMU, 5-2

Sunday, October 9

Buckley Field

2:00

Drexel University

(6-7, 1-1CAA)

James Madison (Alumni Day)

(9-3, 3-1CAA)

James Madison

Drexel

Field Hockey Drops Sunday Contest to JMU, 5-2

10/9/2016 3:46:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Drexel field hockey team (6-7, 1-1 CAA) dropped its Sunday afternoon conference contest to the James Madison Dukes (9-3, 3-1 CAA) by a final of 5-2 from Buckley Field on Alumni Day.

Senior Idrienne Walker scored both second-half goals for the Dragons, but the comeback effort was not enough on Sunday.

James Madison scored five first-half goals to take a 5-0 lead into halftime. Hannah Hall scored 4:12 into the affair after a hard shot from the top of the circle. Melissa Wilken added another as she tipped a pass from Hall about 11 minutes.

Midway through the first half, Ashley Gippe scored her first of the day. She deflected a shot by Florien Sondern. With about 15 minutes left in the first, Miranda Rigg scored to give the Dukes a four-goal lead. A minute after that Gippe notched her second of the day as she got her own rebound after a blocked shot.

At the half, Drexel trailed 5-0.

After JMU controlled play for most of the first half, the Dragons got their chances over the final 35 minutes. With just two shots in the first, Drexel managed 11 in the second, led by senior Idrienne Walker, senior Jessica McCarthy and sophomore Megan Wiest with three each.

Walker scored her seventh of the season about four minutes in as she deflected a shot by McCarthy. On the play, Walker inserted a penalty corner to McCarthy who was standing on the nearside edge of the circle. McCarthy made a move on the Duke defender before taking a shot. Walker was at the post and redirected it as it went in, 5-1.

With JMU serving a green card about three minutes later, Walker added another when freshman Tess Bernheimer made a quick pass across the center of the circle which set Walker up for a shot that went in the top corner of the cage. Walker now leads the team with 19 points and is tied for first on the squad with eight goals.

With just under four minutes left in regulation, Walker almost completed a hat trick when she laid her stick almost flat on the ground to deflect a long, hard pass from sophomore Katie Bagdon from just inside midfield. Walker's deflection went just a bit high over the cage.

Sophomore Rebecca Weinstock also had a scoring chance when she had a quick turnaround shot that was saved with 1:38 remaining.

The Drexel defense displayed a strong effort in the second half, limiting JMU to just five shots after allowing 12 in the first. Drexel also earned four corners to JMU's three in the second half, but could not erase the remaining deficit as the Dragons fell, 5-2.

Drexel returns to action on Friday, October 14 at William & Mary at 6 p.m before returning home to host No. 20 American on Sunday, October 16 from Buckley Field at 2 p.m.