PISCATAWAY, NJ – The Rutgers field hockey team (2-6, 0-1 BIG EAST) dropped a non-conference match at home to Drexel (4-2), 5-0, tonight at the Rutgers Stadium Complex.

Drexel scored the opening goal with 22:08 remaining in the first half when Kristina Burbich knocked the ball past RU freshman goalkeeper Aga Siemiginowska (Winchester, MA) after the ball bounced off her pads. The Dragons struck again six minutes later when Julie Gahman scored an unassisted goal, giving Drexel a 2-0 lead it would carry into halftime.

The Dragons came back in the second half to score the three final goals of the evening. Lauren Zukowski and Kristina Backenstose contributed the final tallies of the night. Zukowski scored the first goal and assisted on the second, while Backenstose scored the last two.

Siemiginowska, who made her collegiate debut in this evening’s match, made five saves, while sophomore Tiffany Klebez (Milford, PA) made a diving defensive save inside the cage during the second half, when Siemiginowska came out of the box to the top of the circle. Klebez’s defensive save marks her third of the season, tying for the team lead.

Rutgers returns to conference action on Saturday, Sept. 28, when the Scarlet Knights face Villanova (3-5, 0-1 BIG EAST) at 1 p.m. in Villanova Stadium.

SCORING SUMMARY
1 2 Final
Drexel 2 3 5
Rutgers 0 0 0

12:52 DU Kristina Burbich (off RU goalie pads) 0-1
18:52 DU Julie Gahman 0-2
38:55 DU Lauren Zukowski 0-3
56:09 DU Kristina Backenstose (Zukowski) 0-4
68:47 DU Backenstose 0-5

Saves:
DU – Katie Dougherty (1)
RU – Aga Siemiginowska (5)

Shots on Goal:
DU – 14
RU – 4

Penalty Corners:
DU – 9
RU - 8