Field Hockey Falls in Overtime to #24 Drexel, 2-1

Mitchell Makes Nine Saves; Gerdes Tallies First of Season

Nicole Gerdes tallied her first goal of the season on Friday

Aug. 31, 2012

Box Score

MERION STATION, Pa. - Nicole Gerdes scored her first goal of the season in the first half and goalkeeper Kate Mitchell turned in the finest performance of her career, making nine saves, but Lindsay McArdle's overtime winner gave 24th-ranked Drexel a 2-1 win over the Saint Joseph's field hockey team on Friday afternoon at Ellen Ryan Field.

McArdle opened the scoring just over nine minutes into the game when she picked up a loose ball in the circle and beat Mitchell to the stick side to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead.

Drexel came close to doubling the advantage 10 minutes later, but Mitchell leapt across her crease and swatted Christina Conrad's shot out of the air to keep the Hawks within a goal.

As Saint Joseph's (1-1) started to build some offensive pressure midway through the half, Gerdes converted her only shot of the game into an equalizer. After a corner, Jordan Martin sent a pass from the top of the arc to Gerdes, who rifled it into the bottom left corner of the cage for the tying goal.

The teams traded rushes throughout an entertaining second half. The Hawks nearly took the lead with 14 minutes to go, but Drexel goalkeeper Jantien Gunter made four saves in two minutes, including a pair of point-blank stops in succession, to preserve the tie.

Mitchell did her part to send the game to an extra period, stopping three Dragon attempts over the course of 68 seconds to keep the game level.

Both teams had chance in overtime, but McArdle came through with the game-winner 5:20 into the extra frame. After a long run down the right wing, she went one-on-one with Mitchell, who got a piece of the shot before it bounced into the cage to give the Dragons the win.

Mitchell finished with nine saves while Gunter posted eight in an outstanding goalkeeping matchup. The Dragons held a 23-12 shot advantage, but only put 11 shots on goal to SJU's 10. Drexel also earned five penalty corners to four for Saint Joseph's.

The Hawks return to Ellen Ryan Field for a Sunday matchup with Hofstra. The game is set to begin at noon.