Drew University Athletics

MADISON, N.J. – Junior Ellie Kopec posted her first career hat trick and the Drew University field hockey team nearly erased a four-goal halftime deficit, but the rally fell just short in a 6-5 loss to Kean University on Saturday in non-conference action at Ranger Stadium.
 
The Rangers trailed 5-1 at the half before scoring three consecutive goals to open the third quarter, with two coming off the stick of Kopec. The Cougars snapped the run in the final minute of the quarter before the Rangers made it a one-goal game once again early in the final period.
 
It was the first career multi-goal game for Kopec, who notched a pair of penalty-stroke goals.
 
Ali Stoner also recorded a hat trick for Kean (2-0) with three goals and one assist.
 
Freshman Vanessa Pennella made nine saves for the Rangers while Daniella Maresca stopped seven shots for Kean.
 
The Cougars opened the game on a 3-0 run before the Rangers got on the scoreboard with just under a minute left in the opening quarter on Kopec's first penalty-stroke tally. But Kean answered 12 seconds later to make it 4-1 lead at the end of the stanza.
 
Kean struck again with 4:41 left in the opening half to assume its four-goal lead at the break.
 
Drew found a spark in the second half, starting with a tally from sophomore Bella Fini two minutes into the period. She backed down her defender before sending a shot through the five-hole for her first goal of the season.
 
Kopec then struck twice over a four-and-a-half minute stretch to pull the Rangers to within one. She cashed in on another PS to make it 5-3 with 6:28 left in the third quarter, then converted on a penalty corner with just under two minutes showing in the period. She accepted a pass from senior Liriana Seferovic on the left elbow and rifled home a shot from just inside the arc to make it a 5-4 game.
 
Kean halted the rally with a big insurance goal in the final minute of the quarter. But the Rangers answered when freshman Emma Kadubec netted her first career goal, tipping in a cross from Fini in front of the goal with 10:37 remaining.
 
The Rangers threatened later in the quarter, but junior Emily Caporrino's breakaway shot was kicked away by Maresca.
 
Pennella kept it a one-goal game with her final stop late in the contest, knocking down a blast from Stoner with just under two minutes to go.
 
The Rangers continue their season on Wednesday, when they visit Muhlenberg College in another non-conference tilt starting at 7 p.m.