Jen Rauscher

Sara Pattia

Christy Miller

PHILADELPHIA, PA - In their ninth road game of the 2005 season, the La Salle Explorer field hockey team traveled closer to home on Tuesday afternoon when they took on the local Drexel Dragons at Buckley Field.  The Explorers dropped the game 2-1 to the Dragons, who now stand at 5-1 and equal the teams best start, while
La Salle falls to 2-7.

With neither team able to get on the scoreboard in the first half, the Explorers used their first opportunity in the second half to beat the Dragons to the scoreboard. Just five minutes into the second half, Emily Simone deflected a crossing pass from Amy Dalrymple that found the back of the cage.

After the goal, the Dragons offense pushed forward to create more scoring chances and finally the Dragons were able to break through the Explorers defense with a goal of their own. Rachel Zeldin  fired a shot at close range that was turned away by
La Salle goalkeeper Ellen Axelsen, but Zeldin picked up the rebound and directed a shot in the lower left corner of the goal.

With both teams pushing to break the tie, it was Drexel who scored the final goal of the game nine minutes later. Rachel Babcock  fired a shot past Axelsen but was saved by sprawling Explorer Colleen Nesbitt just before it crossed the goal line. Babcock retained control of the rebound and finally deposited the ball in the net to give Drexel a 2-1 advantage.

 For the game, Ellen Axelsen tallied five saves while Drexel goalkeeper Colleen McAndrew  made one save to secure the victory.  The one save came on a breakaway with just 12 seconds remaining in the game. La Salle's Christy Miller fired a shot that was turned away with McAndrew's right blocker which preserved the victory for the Dragons. McAndrew lowered her GAA to 1.15 and has allowed just six goals in the last seven games. In the past four games, Zeldin has come off the bench to record two goals and one assist for the Dragons. Babcock's goal was the third of the season for the senior.

THe Explorers will finally open the 2005 home season this Sunday when they host Rider at Hank DeVincent Field at 12:00 p.m.