Philadelphia – Drexel scored three goals in a span of 1:17 late in the fourth quarter to turn a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead and defeated Delaware, 10-8. With the victory the Dragons earned the final spot in the upcoming CAA Tournament. The Dragons (7-7, 3-3 CAA) will play either at Hofstra or at Towson on Wednesday night.

Delaware's (5-10, 2-4 CAA) Mark Steverson put the Blue Hens ahead for the first time since Steverson opened the game's scoring. With just over nine minute remaining in the fourth quarter, Steverson made a nice move to give the Hens the lead at 7-6. The teams had been tied on six previous occasions.

Drexel answered at the 6:25 mark when junior Adam Dennis put home a pass from Brian Neary to tie it up. The Dragons took the lead for good just 61 seconds later when Greg Casey fired a shot up high past Delaware's Noah Fossner. Nick Kusturiss won the ensuing face-off and senior Kevin Dart scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at the 5:08 mark.

Delaware was not done as Curtis Dickson, the second-leading scorer in the CAA, set up Kevin Kaminski to make it 9-8 with just under four minutes to play. The Hens had a shot blocked in the final two minutes but it was blocked and Drexel gained possession. Delaware tried to pressure the Dragons but senior Brian Neary, in his final home game, fired a shot into the empty net with 39 seconds left to clinch the victory for the Dragons.

The first half was tightly contested with Drexel holding on to a slim one-goal lead at intermission. The Dragons scored three extra-man goals in the first half, including one by Colin Ambler with 2:21 to play in the half to make in a 5-4 game.

Delaware entered the game third in the nation in face-off percentage, but the Dragons won 12 of the 21 draws. Ryan West won five of his eight draws, while Kusturiss was 3 for 5 and had two key wins as the Dragons took the lead in the fourth quarter.

Ambler led the Dragons with two goals and two assists. Casey and Dennis also had a pair of goals. Mark Manos was again stellar in the cage. The freshman of the year candidate made 11 saves, his eighth straight game with at least 10 stops.

Kaminski, Dickson and Steverson each had two goals for the Blue Hens. Dickson also had a pair of assists. Fossner picked up eight saves in a losing effort.

* * * *

PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Delaware's men's lacrosse season came to a tough end Saturday afternoon at Vidas Field as the Blue Hens dropped a 10-8 decision to host Drexel with a Colonial Athletic Association playoff berth at stake.

The Dragons (7-7, 3-3 CAA) scored three goals in a span of 1:17 midway through the fourth quarter to take command and held off the Hens down the stretch to earn the win and advance to the CAA semifinals where they will travel to either Towson or Hofstra Wednesday night. A win by Delaware would have given the Blue Hens the No. 4 seed and a berth in the semifinals at Hofstra Wednesday.

The Blue Hens (5-10, 2-4 CAA) lost their second straight game and failed to make the CAA semifinals for the first time since the 2003 season after a school-record five straight appearances. Each of Delaware's four league losses this season came by two goals or less and of the 10 setbacks, seven came by a margin of three goals or less.

All-American Curtis Dickson, Mark Steverson, and Kevin Kaminski each scored two goals to pace the Blue Hens. Dickson, who also dished out two assists, extended his point-scoring streak to 40 straight games and his second goal with 8:22 left in the third quarter was the 100th of his career. The junior, who ended the season as the team's leading scorer with 33 goals and 12 assists for 45 points, is now one of only 13 players in school history to reach the 100-goal plateau.

1 2    Next  »

2009-04-25