Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
VCU
Drexel Nipped by Rams in Overtime, 4-3
10/8/2006 2:37:46 PM | Field Hockey
Philadelphia – Drexel Field Hockey lost a 4-3 overtime heartbreaker to Virginia Commonwealth in a Colonial Athletic Association game played on Buckley Field. The Rams only shot in overtime found the back of the cage as Jenna Harris finished Nikki Lloyd's shot off a penalty corner to give VCU (2-11, 1-4 CAA) its first conference win. Drexel dropped to 6-7 this season and 0-5 in the CAA.
Drexel came out strong after the opening whistle as Karie Walton (Spring City, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) opened the game's scoring on a penalty corner and Catherine Chiara (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) scored shortly thereafter on a rebound of a Sarah Gostomski (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) shot. VCU answered with a goal from Nikki Lloyd after the sophomore weaved her way through the Drexel defense and fired a shot that Drexel goalie Colleen McAndrew (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) could only deflect on its way into the goal. Lloyd's goal would be the last of the first half as the teams headed to intermission with the score, 2-1.
VCU started the second period strong as the Rams earned several penalty corners. They finally broke through on a goal by Emily Guerra and took the lead on a penalty stroke taken by Lloyd. With less than 13 minutes left in the game, sophomore Amanda Kicera (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) found an opportune time to score her first career goal. With the Dragons pushing ahead to look to tie the game, Emily Horvat (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) found an opening along the endline and fired a centering pass to Kicera in front of the cage. Kicera sent a shot through the legs of Rams' goalie Brittany LoVullo to even the score, 3-3.
The score remained locked at three through regulation. In overtime, the Dragons put constant pressure on the Rams' defense generating three penalty corners and six shots. LoVullo turned away the five shots on goal and eventually the Rams were able to send the ball to their offensive end where they earned their only penalty corner of the extra session and Lloyd's game-winning goal.
For the game, Drexel outshot VCU, 26-10, and held a 16-9 edge in penalty corners. LuVullo made 15 saves while McAndrew stopped three.
Drexel will return to Buckley Field on Tuesday, Oct. 10 to take on No. 5 Duke in the teams' first ever meeting. Game time is 4 p.m.
