Drew Outlasts Catholic In Shootout

MADISON, N.J. - In a thrilling game that ended in a penalty stroke shootout, Drew knocked off Landmark Conference leaders Catholic, 1-1 (2-1 PS), in field hockey action at Ranger Stadium on Saturday.  Lauren Fabrizio got Drew's goal in regulation as they battled having fallen behind after just 30 seconds of play.  Stef Rutkowski (left) made 10 saves in regulation and two more in the penalty shootout to help Drew improve to 9-4, 2-2 in the Landmark.  The Cardinals fall to 7-5, 3-1 in the Landmark.

It didn't take long for Catholic to grab a lead as the Cardinals scored on their first shot just thirty seconds into the game.  Rosemary Dixon fired off the pads of Stef Rutkowski from just inside the circle for a 1-0 edge.

Rutkowski made amends in the 15th minute as she stopped the Carley Walko in a one-on-one opportunity and both Allison Segal and Nicole Gagliardi made key interventions in the next few minutes to deny Catholic chances as the Rangers fought to keep it at 1-0.

First-year Lauren Fabrizio got her first collegiate goal in the 30th minute for the equalizer.  Whitney Kerns took a free hit on the right hand side and played it short to Nicole DiBattista who sent a pass towards goal.  The ball found its way to Fabrizio who tipped it around the keeper and despite a good effort by a Catholic defender, the ball trickled over the line for the equalizer.

The Rangers gained more control of the match in the second half.  Ryan Hoover had a big impact on the game in the second, winning a corner that lead to a Nicole DiBattista shot into the side of the net.  Still knotted at ones in the 55th, Drew continued to press forward, but just lacked a final touch.

Catholic nearly stole a goal with just nine minutes left as Michele Repass tipped a pass towards the net that Rutkowski kicked wide.  Delia Barr (right) made the next big play as she swept the line clear with just five minutes to go as the Cardinals' Walko threatened to break the tie.  Finally, Repass nearly broke Ranger hearts in the final seconds, but her attempt slid just wide of the far post and the game moved to overtime.

In the opening minute of overtime Stef Rutkowski made three great saves in row to save the game for Drew.  Rosemary Dixon blasted hard from the right side, but Rutkowski made a fine kick save to deny her.  Caroline Reilly followed with a pair of shots that the sophomore swept away from danger before kicking out.  Delia Barr made another key defensive play in the final seconds of the first overtime period as she stopped Reilly on a breakaway as the last defender.

Next it was Marian Cassilly turn to make a play as the Cardinal keeper denied Law the winner with a diving save two minutes into the second OT.  Catholic had another chance with three minutes left, but Repass couldn't quite reach a pass from Reilly at the far post.  The final overtime period ran out as the game move to penalty strokes.

In the penalty strokes, Cassilly stopped the Rangers first attempt, but Rutkowski came back with a save of her own covering the right hand side well.  Nicole DiBattista got Drew's first ripping it into the left hand side in the Rangers' second attempt.  Repass responded with a goal of her own, high in the net.  Drew's Liz Young made the most of her first involvement in the game, scoring easily to left.  Rutkowski covered the left to deny Emily Laursen to preserve the 2-1 lead on the next stroke.  After Cassilly saved a Drew stroke, the next Catholic attempt went wide.  Finally, Cassilly made another save to keep it a 2-1 while Rutkowski's big saves earlier in the strokes forced another Cardinal shot to go wide of the net.

The win kick starts the Rangers' Landmark campaign as they even their record at 2-2 with two games left, at Susquehanna and home to Moravian.  Catholic will now be tied at the top of the Landmark with a record 3-1.

The Rangers will test their two game winning streak at #13 Montclair State on Monday.