A Field Hockey Filled Week

Coming back from a 3-0 deficit in field hockey is almost unheard of, especially when the three goals are scored in the first 20 minutes by the same player. This not only knocks the confidence out of players, but lights a fire under the behinds of the ones in the lead. Once its 3-0, it feels like the pounding will never stop--and normally for a team like Duke, the pounding doesn't stop.

However, yesterday it did.

In a stunning upset, Drexel came back from 3-0 deficit, to rally 3 second half goals, and an overtime goal to go on to win the game 4-3.

Just last Sunday, I watched Drexel as they took on LaSalle. Drexel fell early, 1-0, but scored 4 second half goals to take the game 4-1. 

Is Drexel just a second half team, or do they think it's fun to let the other team think they have a chance?

Either way I am sure the team is celebrating their fantastic win. When they become the first half team too, I think the scores that will light up on the board will be beyond belief. Have no doubts, Drexel is in it this year and has a good chance of competing even with teams of the caliber of University of Maryland, University of North Carolina, and Wake Forest.

In other field hockey news,  nothing else has been quite as stunning or shocking as the Drexel win over Duke to close the first full week of competition in NCAA Division 1 field hockey.

Fans from Princeton and Ohio State that gathered at Syracuse witnessed a close match on Saturday, as Princeton tied  Ohio State in the last minute of the game and went on to win in overtime. And on Friday, fans at Syracuse saw as Syracuse won a hard fought match against Ohio State. Today, Syracuse takes on Princeton in what is sure to be a thriller.

Other games were simply blowouts. Old Dominion took out Villanova 7-1 last Sunday, and just days prior knocked the wind out of Penn State. However, the team couldn't keep it together vs Maryland on Friday when they suffered a 6-3 loss.

Maryland has been nothing short of it's usual caliber as the team has won it's first four games with two shutouts vs Ohio and Boston University, and one huge win over Northwestern (7-2).

North Carolina has been showing their true tar heel colors leaving nothing behind as they have scored a total of 11 goals in just three games, with wins against Michigan (2-1), Iowa (5-0), and Wake Forest (4-1).

The loss for Wake Forest was disappointing after coming off two huge wins last weekend: Iowa (3-2) and Michigan (2-1).

Some NEC teams saw a different mix of games this week.

Quinnipiac saw a tough Friday as they opened up their season with an away game at Boston College, where they lost 5-0.

However, Rider showed people that they are not to be counted out this year as they have won their first three games including a win against Temple (4-1).

Monmouth also had a stellar week with three 2-1 wins over LaSalle, Colgate, and Penn.

Over in the A10's

Things have been mixed for Temple as they defeated St. Francis but went on to lose to previously mentioned Rider.

The UMass field hockey team has been trucking with early wins agains Providence College and 9th ranked Iowa. However, the team interrupted those two wins with an overtime loss to BU.

Westchester doesn't want to be counted out either as they have won their first three games, including an 8-0 win over St. Francis to open up their season followed by 5-4 win over Rutgers in double overtime, and a 5-0 win over Lehigh.

So as the first week comes to an end, the playing field has been mixed: Some of the same teams are shining (UMD and UNC), and some dark horses are making their pass (Drexel and Rider). It is hard to predict what will happen as the season will be in full swing very soon.

Lots of teams are pushing this year.

I don't think anyone can be counted out just yet.