Philadelphia – Drexel women's lacrosse dropped its third one-goal game of the season as the Dragons fell to Hofstra, 10-9, at Vidas Field in Drexel's first Colonial Athletic Association game of 2008. Jessica Bill (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Baldwinsville) scored four goals while Kaitlin Keegan (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and Katie Bradley (Spring City, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) each contributed two scores. Hofstra (4-5, 1-0) has defeated Drexel (7-3, 0-1) by one goal in each of the last three seasons.

Hofstra opened the game with three straight goals, including a pair on free-position shots. The Dragons battled back with less than 12 minutes remaining in the opening period as Keegan scored her first of the day followed by Bill's first just over a minute later. The Pride got the two goals right back as Lauren Whitcomb scored her second free-position goal of the game before K'Leigh Vanaman scored to restore Hofstra's three-goal edge. With 1:05 remaining, Bradley scored to move the Dragons to within two goals heading into halftime.

Coming out of the break, Hofstra again rebuilt its three-goal lead as Vanaman notched her second goal. Bradley and Keegan again answered as each scored to cut the Pride's lead to one. The Dragons were unable to tie the game though as Hofstra built its lead back to three with Whitcomb's third score of the day and Cat Thoreson's first goal of the season. Bill halted Hofstra's run with a goal on a free-position shot but Stephanie Rice answered right back for Hofstra less than a minute later. Senior Nicole Adams (Jackson, N.J./Jackson) found Bill cutting in front of the goal just 34 seconds after Rice's goal and Bill finished to bring Drexel to within 9-7. One minute later, Rice scored again as Hofstra held a familiar three-goal lead. With 8:15 to go, Adams scored on a free-position shot just 29 seconds before Bill notched her fourth goal of the game as Drexel again came to within one goal. With time winding down, Bradley fired shot from the top that was turned away by Hofstra goalie Maisie Osteen marking her 13 save of the game. Osteen was able to control the ball and run out the clock as the Pride escaped with the victory.

Drexel outshot the Pride, 26-22, and held a 14-7 advantage in draw controls thanks in large part to Sam Berger's (Palmyra, N.J./Holy Cross) four draw controls. In addition to her two goals, Bradley also contributed on the defensive end as the senior caused a game-high four turnovers. In goal, Lauren LaBella (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) made eight saves before being replaced by Rachael Behrndt (Glenmoore, Pa./Downingtown East) who made one save and caused turnover in scoreless relief.

The Dragons will conclude their non-conference season with a trip to Lewisburg, Pa. to take on Bucknell on Tuesday, April 1. Game time is 6:00 p.m.

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Philadelphia, PA -- Led by three goals from junior midfielder Lauren Whitcomb, the Hofstra Women's Lacrosse team held off a late Drexel rally as the Pride defeated the Dragons, 10-9, at Vidas Field on Sunday afternoon. The win marked the third consecutive season that Hofstra has beaten Drexel by one goal (2006 and 2007 meetings went to overtime) and the Pride has now won 13 straight meetings against the Dragons.

Hofstra improved to 4-5 overall and 1-0 in conference with the win in its Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener, while Drexel fell to 7-3 and 0-1 with the loss.

Hofstra never trailed in the opening half, as they scored the first three goals of the game and led 5-3 at the break. Sophomore midfielder Corrine Gandolfi got the Pride on the board with a free-position goal at the 24:26 mark before Whitcomb added another free position goal and sophomore attack Ashley Jones came from behind the goal with 20:35 left before halftime to put Hofstra ahead 3-0.

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2008-03-30