Aug. 30, 2009
Box Score | Photo Gallery
PHILADELPHIA - Drexel scored four second half goals to top La Salle, 4-1, in field hockey action on Sunday at Buckley Field. Explorers sophomore Lindsay Fry put the visitors on the board in the 14th minute but the Dragons proved to be too much down the stretch.
Drexel (2-0) had the first scoring opportunity of the game when Christina Mastropaolo dribbled through the middle and fed Susan Ciufo on the left who sent a shot past the goalie and into the crease where Haley Froshour made a diving defensive save to prevent a sure score.
Just two minutes later the Explorers nearly opened the scoring as junior Beth Carey lifted a shot into the circle that Jenna Phillips made a diving blocker save to keep the ball out of the cage.
La Salle finally broke through as the Explorers sent a ball into the circle that found Fry in front. Fry poked a shot that crossed the line to stake the Explorers to a 1-0 lead. It was the final shot for La Salle of the first half as the Dragons peppered the Explorers' cage but could not find the back.
Junior Emma Ruth had an outstanding period making 11 saves including five on Ciufo shots. Drexel outshot the visitors, 18-2, and earned all seven of the game's penalty corners in the half.
The second half saw the Dragons break through as Ciufo finally solved Ruth in goal as she picked up a rebound and calmly put the ball in the cage. The goal ignited the Drexel offense as just 90 seconds later Jennifer Bolger sent a ball off a penalty corner to Mastropaolo on the left post where she deflected the ball into the cage.
Less than two minutes later, Bolger fired a shot on a corner that beat Ruth on a pass from Kim Tunell. Mastropaolo capped the game's scoring with a goal on a pinpoint pass from Ciufo on the left post.
Phillips earned her second win while making one save. Ruth totaled a career-high 20 saves for the Explorers as the visitors were outshot, 38-6, for the game. Drexel earned 21 corners to La Salle's four.
La Salle (0-2) visits St. Francis (PA) next weekend for a pair of games. First, the Explorers will take on UC-Davis on Saturday at 3 PM (note time change). On Sunday, La Salle will meet host St. Francis (PA) at 1 PM.
