The Triangle

Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Aaron Walizer Scoreless in its last 490 minutes, the men's soccer team needs to step up its offensive production if it wishes to win the CAA and make the NCAA Tournament. The Drexel defense, however, has been solid. The Dragons have given up just nine goals in seven games.

Media Credit: Aaron Walizer The women's soccer team has an impressive record 5-2. The Dragons hope to continue their winning ways when conference play kicks off.

Media Credit: Aaron Walizer After starting off its season 2-0, the men's soccer team has gone winless (0-3-2) in its last five games. The Dragons have failed to score a goal in 490 minutes. The women's soccer team (5-2) and the field hockey team (7-2), however, have found early success this year.

As the first week of school comes to a close, fall sports are in full swing.

The conference season is upon us and while the field hockey (7-2) and women's soccer team (5-2) are finding success early, the men's soccer team (2-3-2) is struggling to put together consistency on the offensive side of the ball.

The men's soccer team has not scored in 490 minutes, and after starting the season off with two consecutive wins, the Dragons are 0-3-2 in their last five games.

Drexel's leading scorer, midfielder Fabio Assumpcao, who has two goals on the season, was injured in the first half of a match against St. Peter's and missed the team's last game, a 2-0 shutout loss to Iona.

The Dragons must get contribution from Assumpcao if they wish to improve on an 11-win season a year ago.

Also, the defense, led by defender Bryan Ruff and goalie Corey Robertson, must continue to play at a high level. Drexel has given up just nine goals.

Unlike the men's soccer team, the field hockey team isn't having any trouble scoring goals-or making history.

The Dragons kicked off their year with back-to-back road upsets over Stanford and California-Berkley, making a major statement.

Drexel also defeated Lafayette for the first time in program history, and most recently knocked off city rival Temple 4-1 Sept. 24 behind a pair of goals from forward Susan Ciufo, who leads her team with 10 goals.

Goalie Colleen McAndrew has been strong in goal, and the Dragons, picked to finish fourth in the conference at the start of their season are on a mission to prove their doubters wrong.

The women's soccer team, like the field hockey team, has also begun its season on the right foot.

The Dragons finished up their non-conference schedule with a 5-2 record and will look to improve on their 2-7-2 finish in the CAA in 2007.

Forward Jenna Lindsay and midfielder Aleka Yiantsos have combined for 12 scores so far. Yiantsos, who has five of them, tied for first all-time on the Drexel scoring list with 18 goals after tallying in a 2-1 loss to St. Joe's in her team's last match.

Goalie Kaitlin Bond has allowed less than a goal a game, and the Dragons will need to continue to keep up their stellar all-around play if they wish to compete in a deep conference.

Expectations will be high for the men's soccer and field hockey teams.

The pressure will be on to produce during regular season games and the conference tournament.

The women's soccer team, however, will be under the radar and will hope to turn some heads.

The major commonality between the three teams is that each has the advantage of having strong goaltending-an advantage that is necessary if any of these teams has thoughts of becoming the first Drexel team to qualify for the NCAA Tournament since 1996.

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