University of Richmond
Drexel
Blythe-Wood's Two Goals Not Enough Against Undefeated Drexel
09/11/2009 | Field Hockey
Sept. 11, 2009
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Senior Sarah Blythe-Wood continued her scoring streak with two goals, but the Richmond field hockey team lost to Drexel 3-2 Friday night under the lights at Buckley Field.
The Spiders, who are receiving votes in the latest KOOKABURRA/NFHCA Division I Top 20 Poll, dropped to 2-3 on the season with all three setbacks coming by one goal to No. 14 ranked American and to No. 20 Indiana.
Drexel improved to 4-0 on the season and is also receiving votes for the Top-20 Poll. The Dragons have now won 11-straight at Buckley Field.
Blythe-Wood, the reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Week, has scored seven goals in the last four contests, including three two-goal games. She now has 21 career goals, just two tallies from breaking into Richmond's all-time top-10 list.
The Harare, Zimbabwe native has 16 points this season and 52 for her career, which is just six points out of breaking into the Spiders' top-10 all-time list for points.
"Sarah Blythe-Wood continues to be a driving force behind the Spiders' drive towards national recognition," Richmond head coach Gina Lucido said. "Her two goals today impacted our team momentum in a heated contest."
Christina Mastropaolo netted a hat trick for the Dragons, with all three goals coming in the first half. Mastropaolo put Drexel up 1-0 just 3:57 into the game, but Blythe-Wood's first goal came less than eight minutes later off an assist from senior Jess Weidner.
Mastropaolo scored in the 20th minute and again in the 27th minute to give Drexel a 3-1 lead, but Blythe-Wood struck again 13:03 into the second half to pull Richmond within one.
"The defensive team of. Jess Weidner, Catherine Ostoich, Michelle Weaver, Tori Witcher and Jackie Raithel (7 saves) showed they are on their way to being a tough wall for teams to get around," Lucido said. "I am so pleased this Spider team came with the mentality and poise to win this match. The ball didn't roll our way in the end."
Richmond returns to action on Sunday at No. 6 ranked Princeton at noon.
