MADISON, N.J. (Sept. 4, 2015) – The Drew University field hockey team fell in a back-and-forth contest with the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen 2-1 in the first game of the 32
nd annual Fall Festival at Ranger Stadium.
Sophomore midfielder
Madi Sheetz notched Drew's first and only goal of the game. Freshman forward
Kate Todero assisted on the score for her first career point.
It took nearly the entire first half, but Drew got on the board with one of its prettier goals of the year. Todero swept a loose ball across the goalmouth to an open and waiting Sheetz. Sheetz fired the one-timer into the open net for her fifth goal of the season. The assist was Todero's first career point.
"That goal broke down really well," head coach
Jess Gray said. "They worked hard for it and it was a great way to score."
The effort put forth by the Rangers pleased Gray.
"The girls fought hard and really well, overall. Coming back and tying the game at the half really shows their effort."
With the score tied 1-1, the Rangers held the Dutchmen to just one goal early, due in part to freshman goalie
Ryann Callaghan's tough cage minding. With seven minutes to go in the half, sophomore midfielder and reigning Landmark Conference defensive save leader
Michele Pozyc slid to deflect a shot on goal. A penalty shot was awarded but Callaghan guessed right, absorbing the try.
Several other shooting flurries came off the sticks of Lebanon Valley but Callaghan booted those away as well.
The Rangers' first two shots of the game came in the same series. Pozyc and Sheetz both attempted sharp angle shots within five seconds of each other, but the Dutchmen keeper sprawled out to defect both, leaving Drew with a blank scorecard 27 minutes into the first half.
In the second half, efficient distribution around the perimeter by the Dutchmen eventually opened a shooter up seven yards from the cage. She put one in the upper left corner to open up a 2-1 lead for Lebanon Valley that would stick as the final.
Fall Fest rolls on as the Rangers take on Cabrini College on Saturday, Sept. 5
th at 12:00 noon.
