MADISON, N.J. – Sophomore
Alexa Krause scored for the fourth match in a row, but it wasn't enough as the Coast Guard Academy used a fast start to hand the Drew University women's soccer team a 2-1 setback on the first day of the Drew Fall Festival on Saturday in Ranger Stadium.
In the first game of the day, Kean University and Westfield State University played to a 1-1 draw.
The Bears (3-0) jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead and carried it into the 80th minute, when Krause struck for her seventh goal of the season. Junior defender
Jessie Brannick set up the goal with a booming clear to midfield, where the ball bounced off the head of a Coast Guard player. Krause deflected it forward, then outraced a defender to the ball at the top of the box. She took one dribble and slotted a shot inside the left post for the goal.
The Rangers (3-1) had numerous chances to pull even, earning a pair of corners and taking three shots inside the last 10 minutes. But Coast Guard goalie Emily Scharnitzky saved a chip off the foot of Krause with 30 seconds left to put the match away.
For the match, Drew outshot Coast Guard 19-12, but Scharnitzky made five saves. Senior
Anthi Panayides turned aside six shots for the Rangers.
Drew had a good scoring chance in the opening minutes when sophomore
Isabella Grof-Tisza set up Krause inside the Bear penalty area, but Krause's bid rolled just wide of the left post. Junior
Rebecca Racine twice came close to putting the hosts on the board with just over 15 minutes expired, hitting the crossbar with shots.
After the Bears had a tally disallowed due to a handball, the visitors netted two goals 6:20 apart. Karagan Bulger tallied the first with 23:47 on the clock when she bodied in a cross from Sidney Palinkas before Kelly Wade made it 2-0, deflecting the ball in from the left side of the penalty area.
Just three minutes before Krause's goal the Rangers received a penalty kick, but Racine's attempt sailed wide.
The Rangers are back in action on Sunday, when they host Kean at 2:30 p.m. to close out the Festival. Coast Guard and Westfield State face off at noon.
