Field Hockey Preserves 2-1 Win Tuesday Night over Rider

Tuesday, September 5

Buckley Field

7 p.m.

Drexel University

(2-2 (0-0CAA))

Rider

(2-1 (0-0MAAC))

Rider

DREXEL

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Field Hockey Preserves 2-1 Win Tuesday Night over Rider

9/5/2017 8:41:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel field hockey team scored twice in the first half and preserved a 2-1 win over Rider on Tuesday night in the home opener at Buckley Field. The Dragons improve to 2-2 (0-0 CAA) on the early season, while Rider drops to 2-1 (0-0 MAAC).

Tess Horan and Katie Pappas each scored their first goal of the season to give Drexel a first-half lead, which would ultimately be enough for the victory. Drexel controlled the tempo early, and was able to get an early lead on the Broncs. After weathering an early penalty corner opportunity by the Broncs four minutes in, the Dragons found the back of the cage at the 11:48 mark of the half. Following a save on a Megan Wiest shot, Chandler McFeeley found herself with the ball straight away and fired a shot towards the cage, which Horan redirected. The goal was Horan's first of the season, and the assist was the first of McFeeley's career.

The Dragons continued to dictate the first-half pace following Horan's goal. The Broncs did have a lone opportunity on a penalty corner at 29:15, but Erin Gilchrist turned away Emily Quintus' shot for one of her four saves. Drexel then took the ball down the field, and after freshman keeper Lena Vandam saved Maria Palmieri's shot, Pappas was there to knock home the rebound for her first goal of the year with just over three and a half minutes remaining in the first. Pappas' goal gave the Dragons a 2-0 lead, which they would take to the half.

Rider came out firing in the second half, though Drexel did have three penalty corner opportunities in the opening nine minutes of the half to try to pad its lead. It would be the Broncs, however, that would break through in the second as Marion Waterkeyn knocked home a goal at 53:20 to make it a 2-1 game. Less than five minutes later, Rider again pressured and put two shots on goal, but Gilchrist turned them both away to preserve the victory. Those two shots would come as Rider's final scoring opportunities on the night, as Drexel won, 2-1.

On the night, Drexel led with 13 shots overall, six of which were on goal. Rider had 10 shots, five of which tested Gilchrist. Both keepers finished with four saves. Drexel had eight penalty corners to Rider's four. Wiest recorded the only green card of the game. The Dragons are now 10-6 in home openers since beginning play in the CAA in 2002.

Drexel will return to action on Friday night when it hosts Brown at Buckley Field at 7 p.m.