Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Despite an incredible defensive effort by the University of Delaware field hockey team, the No. 15 ranked Drexel Dragons proved to be too much as they downed the Blue Hens, 3-0, in a Colonial Athletic Association match-up at Buckley Field on Friday night.

Although Drexel (15-3, 6-1) posted a barrage of shots, senior goalie Nikki Rhoades (at right) recorded 12 saves, while Michelle Drummonds also notched the first defensive save of her career.

Led by their efforts, Delaware (3-14, 2-5) held the Dragons scoreless throughout the first half. It marked the first time all season that the high-powered Drexel attack was quieted for the entire opening period.

Unfortunately, Drexel reemerged in the second half as Susan Ciufo posted a goal and an assist to lead the Dragons to their seventh straight victory. Their current winning streak stands as the longest in program history.

During the first half, Drexel out-shot Delaware by a 15-5 margin, but the Blue Hen defense was up to the task, shutting down the Dragon attack. In a 10-minute stretch, Drexel even posted nine straight shots and earned six consecutive penalty corners but was unable to find the back of the cage.

Delaware’s strong defensive effort continued in the early part of the second half as Drummonds posted a defensive save on Drexel’s first shot before Rhoades turned away the next three.

The non-stop attack was too much to contain, however, as Christina Mastropaolo knocked a one-timer past Rhoades to put the Dragons on the board at 37:44. Although the Hens kept Drexel quiet for another sustained period of time, Ciufo added the team’s second score after taking a pass from Elizabeth Koch and sneaking it into the cage at 55:28.

The goal continued Ciufo’s streak of 18 consecutive matches with a point. Eleven minutes later, she added another one after setting up Jen Cairone’s goal with time running out.

During the contest, Drexel out-shot Delaware by a 29-9 margin and held a 9-4 advantage in penalty corners.

With the victory, Drexel clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming CAA Tournament.

Delaware will cap its regular season slate with a 1 p.m. bout against Hofstra in Hempstead on Sunday.