PHILADELPHIA, PA –  The La Salle Explorer field hockey team lost its first game of the season to the host Drexel Dragons at Buckley Field on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 3-2.  The Explorers are now even at 1-1, while the Dragons wimprove to 2-0 for the season.

La Salle opened the scoring early with a goal less than three minutes into the game on a deflection from Amy Comstock. Allison Geiger was credited with the assist. Eight minutes later, Drexel's  Sarah Gostomski  scored the equalizer on a pass from Cassie Prentiss. CatherineChiara then struck with her fourth goal of the season when Emily Horvat found Chiara’s stick in front of the cage. Chiara promptly delivered the ball past La Salle goalie Ellen Axelsen to give Drexel a lead it would not relinquish.

In the second half, Chiara knocked in her second goal of the game with the help of Casey Mouser at the 37:29 mark.  With the Dragons up 3-1, both teams went on a dry spell for almost the rest of the game.  La Salle, not wanting to give up without a fight, put a second goal on the scoreboard with just 46 seconds left in the game.   Geiger neeted the goal unassisted to bring the final score to 3-2.

La Salle goalkeeper Ellen Axelsen completed the entire 70 minutes and earned seven saves, while Drexel goalkeeper Colleen McAndrew matched Axelsen's 70 minutes and managed five saves.

Drexel held an 18-11 on shots in the contest and the Explorers edged out the Dragons in penalty corner at 6-4.

The Explorers will look to rebound from their first loss of the season on Saturday, September 2nd, when they take on Quinnipiac at 2:00 p.m. at Hofstra University.