Rutgers Field Hockey Falls to Drexel, 3-2
Aug 28 | Field Hockey
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Sarah Dunn netted one of RU's goals. (Tom Ciszek/NJSportsPhoto)
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Seniors Jessika Hoh (Allentown, Pa.) and Sarah Dunn (Eaton, N.Y.) each scored for the Scarlet Knights (0-1). The Dragons (1-0) were led by junior Susan Ciufo who recorded her first career hat trick.
“I thought we played a great first half, it was so competitive. Once Drexel scored that third goal, we forced the issue and the execution of our basic skills weren’t as sharp and broke down,” said head coach Liz Tchou. “I was happy with effort. We just need to take care of pockets of time.”
Rutgers took two shots before connecting on its third opportunity of the game. RU got on the board first when back Chelsey Schwab (Pottstown, Pa.) took a rebound off of the Drexel goalkeeper, slipping the ball to Hohfor the score.
Nearly six minutes later, Drexel tied the contest at 1-1 on Ciufo’s first goal of the game. RU freshman goalkeeper Shanice Beasley (Houston, Texas) made a spectacular stop on a Drexel penalty corner only to be out of position when Ciufo one-timed it in from the left side of the cage.
RU went ahead, 2-1 in the 24th minute when Kat Rodziewicz (Ocean, N.J.) saw her shot saved by DU goalie Jenna Phillips. The ball bounced off a Drexel defender and to the waiting stick of Dunn, who fired it in from three yards out for a 2-1 lead.
Five minutes later, Drexel knotted the game when Christina Mastropaolo and Ciufo found open field on a breakaway. Ciufo corralled Mastropaolo’s pass on the right side of the cage to make it a 2-2 game.
The game-winner game came at the 44:59 mark when Ciufo fired into the left part of the cage.
Drexel outshot Rutgers, 17-9 for the game, including an 8-1 advantage in the second half.
Beasley made eight stops in goal for Rutgers in her first collegiate showing.
“I am not going to lie, I was nervous and it was hard,” said Beasley. “Even with a solid effort; getting three goals scored against me is disappointing but it gives me a solid base going into Sunday (versus West Chester) that I can do this and put together a good game again.”
Rutgers is back in action, entertaining West Chester at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 30.
