Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
(12-7)
Northeastern
(9-9)
Drexel Holds Off Northeastern to Advance to CAA Championship
11/7/2025 3:09:00 PM | Field Hockey
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Drexel field hockey earned a 3–2 victory over Northeastern in Friday afternoon's CAA Semifinal, advancing to the conference championship game for the first time since the 2022 season. The Dragons will play for the title on Sunday at noon against top-seeded Monmouth. Tickets can be purchased with cash only upon arrival to Sunday's title game for $10. Information about the 2025 CAA Field Hockey Championships, click here.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Drexel opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Natali Foster converted on a penalty corner, finishing a setup from Valentine Van Hellemont and Marti Sanabria to give the Dragons the early lead. The goal capped a strong first-quarter stretch in which Drexel generated multiple circle entries and limited the Huskies to just one shot. The Dragons maintained their defensive shape through the second quarter. Northeastern earned a pair of corners, but Halle Geiger turned aside two driven attempts to preserve the advantage. Drexel would carry the 1–0 lead into halftime.
Drexel extended the margin early in the third. In the 33rd minute, Pili Lemoine capitalized on sustained pressure inside the attacking circle, pushing the lead to 2–0. Moments later, Geiger made another key stop on a low shot through traffic as Northeastern searched for a response. The Dragons struck again in the 54th minute as Lily Haag found the cage off a setup from Lemoine, giving Drexel a 3–0 edge with just over six minutes to play. The Huskies scored twice in rapid succession, striking in the 55th and 56th minutes to pull within one. Drexel defended five corners in the closing minutes, with Geiger controlling rebounds and the backline clearing multiple loose balls at the doorstep. The Dragons held firm through the final possession, securing their place in Sunday's championship match.
BY THE NUMBERS
– Goals: Foster, Lemoine, Haag
– Assists: Van Hellemont, Sanabria, Lemoine
– Geiger finished with three saves
– Drexel recorded 11 shots and eight on goal
– Northeastern generated seven penalty corners in the second half
– Dragons advance to the CAA Championship for the first time since 2022
Team Stats
Natali Foster
Assisted By: Valentine Van Hellem , Marti Sanabria
GOAL by Drexel Natali Foster (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Valentine Van Hellem and Marti Sanabria
10:53
Pili Lemoine
GOAL by Drexel Pili Lemoine
32:14
Lily Haag
Assisted By: Pili Lemoine
GOAL by Drexel Lily Haag, Assist by Pili Lemoine
53:23
ARMAGANIAN, Camille
Assisted By: MEGA, Alex , GARDEN,Jess
GOAL by Northeastern ARMAGANIAN, Camille, Assist by MEGA, Alex and GARDEN,Jess
54:47
SMITH, Lilly
GOAL by Northeastern SMITH, Lilly
55:25
