Towson Field Hockey Rallies With Two Third-Quarter Goals but Falls 5-2 to Drexel
By Brian Hradsky
October 21, 2026
The Towson University field hockey team suffered a 5-2 defeat against the Drexel Dragons on Friday, October 16, at the TU Field Hockey Complex despite a spirited third-quarter comeback. Towson erased half of a four-goal deficit with goals from Else Wismans and Josefina Sayal Aguirre, but Drexel responded in the fourth quarter to secure the Coastal Athletic Association victory. The Tigers generated 16 shots and placed 13 on goal, finishing with more shots and penalty corners than the Dragons despite the three-goal defeat. The loss dropped Towson to 5-10 overall and 0-5 in CAA competition, while Drexel improved to 11-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Towson Starts Aggressively but Drexel Strikes First
The Tigers opened the contest with considerable offensive energy, forcing a Drexel turnover and earning two penalty corners during the opening minute. Delfina Larripa and Anouk Westerink combined to produce four early shots, but Dragons goalkeeper Halle Geiger stopped every attempt. Towson’s aggressive start demonstrated its ability to create opportunities against a strong conference opponent. However, the Tigers were unable to capitalize on their early pressure, allowing Drexel to seize momentum.
The Dragons opened the scoring at 3:59 when Pili Lemoine converted an opportunity created by Valentine van Hellemont. Drexel continued applying pressure throughout the opening period while Towson attempted to recover from the early setback. Lauren Kushma added another goal at 14:43, extending the Dragons’ advantage to 2-0 just before the end of the first quarter. The two-goal deficit placed Towson in a difficult position despite the Tigers generating five shots during the opening 15 minutes.
Towson goalkeeper Riley Redding made an early save against Hamers, but Drexel’s ability to capitalize on its opportunities proved decisive. The Tigers created enough chances to challenge Geiger, yet the Dragons demonstrated greater efficiency around the goal. Towson entered the second quarter needing to improve its finishing while preventing Drexel from extending the lead. The opening period established a pattern in which the Tigers generated offensive pressure but struggled to convert their opportunities.
Dragons Extend Lead Before Halftime
Both teams continued creating scoring chances during the second quarter as Towson attempted to reduce the deficit. Redding made several important stops to prevent Drexel from immediately adding to its advantage. Stevie Schultz also contributed a defensive save following a Dragons penalty corner, helping the Tigers remain within two goals. Towson’s defensive effort kept the contest competitive through much of the period.
Drexel eventually broke through again at 27:01 when Hamers scored her first goal of the afternoon. The goal extended the Dragons’ advantage to 3-0 and gave the visitors a commanding lead entering halftime. Towson had generated eight first-half shots but remained scoreless because of Geiger’s strong goalkeeping performance. The Tigers faced a significant challenge after allowing three goals without converting any of their opportunities.
The first-half performance highlighted Towson’s difficulties finishing scoring chances against quality conference opponents. The Tigers were able to create opportunities through aggressive play and penalty corners but could not find the breakthrough necessary to change the momentum. Drexel, meanwhile, capitalized on its chances and established a substantial advantage. Towson needed a much stronger offensive response after halftime to remain competitive.
Drexel Builds Four-Goal Advantage
Towson opened the third quarter with renewed offensive pressure as Westerink and Jillian LaBar tested Geiger early in the period. The Drexel goalkeeper continued denying the Tigers, maintaining the Dragons’ three-goal advantage. Towson’s ability to generate chances suggested the offense was beginning to find a rhythm, but the team remained unable to finish. Drexel responded with another goal to extend its lead.
Van Hellemont scored at 35:59 following an assist from Hamers, giving the Dragons a 4-0 advantage. The goal came less than six minutes into the second half and appeared to place the contest firmly under Drexel’s control. Towson faced a substantial deficit against an opponent that had already demonstrated strong defensive organization and effective finishing. However, the Tigers refused to surrender and produced their strongest offensive stretch of the afternoon.
Wismans and Sayal Aguirre Spark Towson Comeback
Towson finally broke through at 37:45 when Wismans scored following a penalty corner opportunity. Gianna Tripodi and Larripa assisted on the play, helping the Tigers reduce Drexel’s advantage to 4-1. The goal was Wismans’ first of the season and the first of her collegiate career. Her contribution provided Towson with renewed confidence after the Tigers had spent much of the contest searching for a scoring breakthrough.
The Tigers continued attacking and earned another penalty corner opportunity later in the third quarter. Sayal Aguirre capitalized at 42:01, scoring her first goal as a Towson player after transferring from Saint Francis. Wismans and Larripa recorded assists on the play, giving both players multiple offensive contributions during the period. The goal reduced Drexel’s advantage to 4-2 and brought Towson within striking distance entering the final quarter.
The two goals came just four minutes and 16 seconds apart, demonstrating how quickly Towson could generate offense when its penalty corner execution improved. Wismans finished with a goal and an assist, recording her first collegiate multi-point performance. Larripa contributed two assists, while Tripodi added her second assist of the season. The Tigers scored on multiple penalty corners for the second time this season, having previously accomplished the feat against Fairfield on September 25.
Hamers Ends Towson’s Comeback Hopes
Towson entered the fourth quarter trailing by two goals and hoping to continue the momentum established during the previous period. However, Drexel regained control and prevented the Tigers from generating another extended scoring run. Hamers scored her second goal at 52:59, converting an opportunity created by Sadie Schultz to extend the Dragons’ lead to 5-2. The insurance goal restored Drexel’s three-goal advantage and made a late Towson comeback considerably more difficult.
The Tigers continued attacking during the closing minutes and generated additional penalty corner opportunities. Sayal Aguirre tested Geiger again at 54:39, but the Drexel goalkeeper made her 11th save to preserve the advantage. Towson was unable to generate another goal despite maintaining offensive pressure during portions of the final quarter. Drexel completed the 5-2 victory and strengthened its position in the CAA standings.
Hamers finished with two goals and an assist, making her one of the most productive players in the contest. Van Hellemont added a goal and an assist, while Lemoine and Kushma contributed the Dragons’ other goals. Drexel’s balanced scoring attack allowed the visitors to build an early lead and respond when Towson threatened to make the contest competitive. The Dragons demonstrated the offensive efficiency that ultimately separated the teams.
Towson Holds Statistical Advantages Despite Loss
One of the most notable aspects of the contest was Towson’s ability to generate more offensive opportunities than Drexel. The Tigers finished with 16 shots compared with 15 for the Dragons and placed 13 attempts on goal against Drexel’s 12. Towson also held a substantial advantage in penalty corners, earning 10 compared with just two for the visitors. Those numbers demonstrated that the Tigers were capable of generating pressure against one of the stronger teams in the conference.
However, Drexel’s ability to convert scoring chances proved to be the difference. The Dragons scored five goals on 15 shots, while Towson managed only two goals despite placing 13 attempts on target. Geiger delivered an outstanding performance with 11 saves, repeatedly preventing the Tigers from converting promising opportunities. Redding made six goalkeeper saves for Towson, while Schultz added an important defensive save.
Towson’s penalty corner production provided another encouraging element despite the defeat. The Tigers generated 10 corners and converted two into goals, demonstrating improved execution during the third quarter. The challenge moving forward will be converting more opportunities while limiting defensive breakdowns. Towson has shown that it can create chances, but consistent finishing remains essential against competitive CAA opponents.
Wismans and Sayal Aguirre Reach Important Milestones
Although Towson suffered another conference defeat, the performances of Wismans and Sayal Aguirre provided important individual positives. Wismans recorded her first collegiate goal and added an assist, finishing with the first multi-point game of her career. Her offensive contribution helped the Tigers produce their most effective scoring stretch of the afternoon. The performance could provide additional confidence as she continues developing within Towson’s lineup.
Sayal Aguirre also reached an important milestone by scoring her first goal for the Tigers. The transfer from Saint Francis demonstrated her ability to contribute in an important conference matchup, capitalizing on a penalty corner opportunity during the third quarter. Her goal brought Towson within two and briefly gave the team an opportunity to challenge Drexel during the final period. The Tigers will look for her to build on that performance as the regular season continues.
Larripa’s two assists were another important contribution to Towson’s offensive production. She played a role in both third-quarter goals and helped create opportunities through the Tigers’ penalty corner attack. Tripodi also contributed an assist, while Schultz made a defensive save that prevented Drexel from extending its lead earlier in the contest. Those individual performances provided encouraging signs despite the disappointing final score.
Tigers Prepare for Senior Day Against UC Davis
Towson will return to action Sunday, October 25, when the Tigers host UC Davis at the TU Field Hockey Complex. The contest is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will serve as Towson’s Senior Day celebration. The Tigers will look to rebound from the defeat against Drexel while recognizing the contributions of their graduating players. The matchup provides another opportunity for Towson to improve its offensive consistency and defensive execution.
The Tigers enter the final stretch of the season with a 5-10 record and are still searching for their first CAA victory. Their performance against Drexel demonstrated that they can create scoring opportunities against quality competition, but their inability to capitalize consistently remains a significant obstacle. Towson will need stronger defensive performances and more effective finishing to turn competitive stretches into victories. The upcoming contest provides an opportunity to apply the lessons learned from Friday’s defeat.
MSB Take
Towson’s 5-2 loss to Drexel was disappointing because the Tigers generated enough offensive opportunities to produce a much closer result. Finishing with more shots, more shots on goal and a substantial penalty corner advantage demonstrated that Towson was capable of challenging the Dragons. However, allowing four consecutive goals before finding the back of the net created a deficit that proved too difficult to overcome. The Tigers must improve their ability to finish early scoring opportunities while avoiding defensive breakdowns that allow opponents to establish commanding leads.
The third-quarter response was encouraging, particularly because Wismans and Sayal Aguirre both reached important individual milestones. Wismans’ first collegiate goal and assist provided an offensive spark, while Sayal Aguirre’s first Towson goal demonstrated the value of the Tigers’ developing contributors. Larripa’s two assists also highlighted the potential of Towson’s penalty corner attack when the team executes effectively. Those performances should provide confidence heading into the final portion of the regular season.
The biggest concern remains Towson’s inability to translate offensive pressure into conference victories. The Tigers created 16 shots and 10 penalty corners against Drexel but still allowed five goals and suffered their fifth consecutive CAA defeat. Improved defensive organization and more consistent finishing will be necessary if Towson hopes to reverse that trend. The upcoming Senior Day matchup against UC Davis provides an opportunity to respond and demonstrate progress before the season concludes.
