Box Score MADISON, N.J. (Sept. 30, 2014) – The season's first win may have been elusive, but the Drew University field hockey team is treating Tuesday evening's 2-1 victory over Wesley College at Ranger Stadium as a fresh start to the 2014 season.
 
The Rangers (1-8) took a 2-0 lead in the first half behind goals from juniors Taryn Murphy and Amber De Marco, and despite a Wesley (5-5) goal in the 56^th minute, junior goalkeeper Sarah Stewart (eight saves) and the Drew defense held their ground for the season's first victory of the year. The outcome was different from the first eight games of 2014, but the effort was the same, according to eighth-year head coach Felicia Cappabianca.
 
"We've been playing the same hockey for the last few games, but we haven't been able to get that win," she said. "It's great for the team to get that first win, and the one thing I've been proud of is how losses can certainly be mentally deflating, but we continued to rise up, come to practice every day, and become a better team. It paid off today."
 
The Rangers began the role reversal in the very first minute of the game, a time in which they have given up goals this season and had to play from behind. On Tuesday, Drew took control of the game within 57 seconds when sophomore forward Huma Sheikh sent a quick-paced pass directed toward the Wesley cage and Murphy got her stick on it for the deflection goal and the early 1-0 lead.
 
"One of our goals was to win the first 10 minutes of the game," Cappabianca said. "Getting up early was huge for us, especially because we've been on the opposite end of that a few times this season. We didn't have to spend our energy fighting back, and focused instead on defending and getting another goal."
 
The Blue & Green held true to another key to the game: preventing a letdown goal. Drew kept the pressure on the Wolverines, which served a twofold purpose. Wesley did not take its first shot until the 23^rd minute, and meanwhile the Rangers' offensive pressure earned a penalty stroke in the 21^st minute. A Drew shot was saved off the line by a Wolverine defender's foot, an illegal play to set up the penalty.
 
De Marco was called on to take the stroke, which was perfectly executed for her first tally of the season to put Drew up 2-0. The lead would hold until halftime, and confidence was high with the Rangers leading in shots 10-2 and in penalty corner opportunities 3-1.
 
"I've taken strokes before, so I wasn't too nervous," De Marco said. "We practice them every day. I just want to stay calm and treat it as a pass to the backside of the goal. We were hoping for a few more goals, but it's great to finally get this first win. All of our energy was very positive all game and this is what we have been waiting for. We had the momentum all game, and we're hoping that continues with us for the rest of the season."
 
The second half began with a renewed energy from the Wesley squad, which fired off two shots in the opening five minutes of the final period. The Wolverines followed with four penalty corners in the span of seven minutes, but Stewart and freshman defender Michele Pozyc were there to keep the contest scoreless. On Wesley's corner in the 50^th minute, Pozyc came up with her 11^th defensive save of the season, which tied her for third for a single season in the Drew record books.
 
The Wolverines did not let up, however, and finally broke through for a goal in the 56^th minute off one of their 10 second-half penalty corners. The play culminated in a high arching pass over Stewart's head and a midair tap in at the far post to cut Drew's lead in half.
 
The Drew defense then bunkered in to preserve the win. In the final minute of play, senior midfielder Melissa Boyd wisely kept possession throughout midfield and carried the ball to the corner of the field, where she played a one-player game of keep away to run out the clock.
 
"There was some great leadership out there tonight along with great heads up play and time management," Cappabianca said.
 
Wesley outshot the Rangers 12-3 in the second half to end up leading 14-13 in shots by game's end. The Wolverines took 11 penalty corners to Drew's seven.
 
The Rangers' first shot at their first winning streak of the season comes on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1:00 p.m. when Landmark Conference play resumes at Susquehanna University. Drew's next home game is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7:00 p.m. against Landmark for The University of Scranton.