The Drew University women’s soccer team began their 2021 season with a 6-6-1 record. They currently have a 1-2-1 standing in the conference, most recently beating conference opponent, Catholic University. Alexa Krause (‘25) recorded her first career hat trick during the game, scoring three goals to lift the Drew University women’s soccer team to a 4-1 victory at Catholic University on Oct. 9.
Krause started the game by scoring two goals in the opening 10 minutes, giving the Rangers an impressive 2-0 lead and delivered the final blow when she scored again one midway through the second half. Her historic performance marked Drew’s first hat trick since Emma Campbell (’16) scored three goals in a 4-4 tie at Moravian University on Oct. 31, 2015.
However, Catholic held a 15-14 edge in shots while Drew managed a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks. Rebecca Racine (‘24) set in motion the tally when she passed a long ball from midfield to Krause, who bolted down the pass and suddenly found herself alone with only the goalkeeper. She sent a shot to the goalie’s right just inside the left post to push her team’s lead to 2-0. Less than two minutes later, the Cardinals cut the deficit in half with a goal. Both sides settled in defensively and the Rangers carried a 2-1 lead into halftime.
The Rangers re-established their two-goal lead in minute 57 when Jessie Brannick (‘24) headed in a corner kick from Gabby Gilgorri (‘23). Nine minutes later, Krause found herself on a breakaway after taking another long pass from Racine. She dribbled into the box and slashed a shot into the lower-left corner of the net, setting the final score with her seventh goal of the season. On the defense, goalkeeper Anthi Panayides (‘23) made five saves to earn victory for the Rangers.
Recently, the Rangers had a tough loss against the nationally ranked University of Scranton, where Amina Cirkiel (‘25) made a season-high of 13 saves. Cirkiel’s 13 stops ranked ninth (tied) in school history and is the most saves made by a Ranger since Sara Nash ( C’16) made 14 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss to Brockport on Aug. 29, 2014. The team lost by a final of 4-0 against the Royals. It was a scoreless match in the opening half until the Royals’ Hope Drewes scored off a corner kick in minute 32 with what held up as the game-winner. The Royals turned up the offensive pressure in the second half when they attempted 15 shots. Cirkiel turned aside nine of them, including numerous diving stops and a tremendous one-handed save off a corner kick late in the match.
The Rangers (6-6-1, 1-2-1 LC) return home on Saturday, when they face Goucher College on Senior Day in another Landmark Conference tilt starting at 1 p.m.
