PHILADELPHIA, PA – Freshman Josephine van der Hoop (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Wolfert van Borselem) and sophomore Gab Girardi (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) each scored, but the Monmouth University field hockey team could not overcome a pair of two-goal deficits in an eventual 5-2 set-back at Drexel, Friday night at Buckley Field.

Drexel (5-4) jumped on Monmouth (7-2), which was ranked 14th in the season's first installment of the RPI rankings, to start the game scoring 1:29 into the contest, but van der Hoop's goal evened the game six minutes later. Back-to-back corner opportunities with time expired allowed the Dragons to enter the break with a one goal advantage and Drexel added another marker 1:13 into the second half to increase their lead to 3-1. Girardi's first goal of the season in the 45th minute brought the Hawks back within a goal but the Dragons scored twice over the remaining 25 minutes to pull away from the Blue and White.


NOTES & QUOTES
“Drexel came out with a fantastic game plan. They outplayed us to every ball. We are going to look to regroup and clean up some things as we get ready for Sunday.” – Head Coach Carli Figlio

- It was the Hawks' first meeting with Drexel since 2001.
- van der Hoop registered her first point since her goal against VCU in the season opener.
- Girardi's first goal of the season is her second career marker.
- Drexel is the second team this season to have a lead over the Hawks.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth outshot Drexel 16-15.
- The Dragons earned seven corner opportunities, one more than the Hawks.
- van der Hoop and senior Casey Hanna (Seaville, NJ/Ocean City) each registered a team-high three shots each. Meg Donahue (Wyomissing, PA/Berks Catholic), Julie Laszlo (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Rotterdams Montessori Lyceum) and Kelly Hanna (Seaville, NJ/Ocean City [Rutgers]) all registered two shots.
- Junior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) made five saves in the loss.

NEXT UP
Monmouth welcomes Bucknell to So Sweet A Cat Field on Sunday, September 25th at 1 p.m.

-@MonmouthFH-