Philadelphia – Virginia scored four straight second half goals to break a 6-6 tie as the third-ranked Cavaliers defeated No. 18 Drexel, 11-7, in front of a capacity crowd of 2,500 at Vidas Field. It was the season-opener for both teams.

Garrett Billings, who had three goals and seven points in the game, set up Gavin Gill for an extra-man goal three minutes into the third period to give Virginia a 7-6 lead. The Cavaliers would not trail again. Brian Carroll scored his third goal of the game on the man-up late in the third and Peter Lamade and Billings added goals early in the fourth to give the Cavaliers a 10-6 lead. Virginia's extra-man offense was the key to the victory, as the unit was perfect in four attempts with a man advantage.

The first half was played fairly even, but Drexel was called for two penalties late in the half and both times Virginia answered with goals. Brian Carroll was the recipient of both of the goals which put Virginia up at intermission, 6-5. That lead was short lived as Colin Ambler scored an unassisted goal in the opening minutes of the second half.

Drexel got the crowd behind them early with the first two goals of the game. Andrew Chapman scored at 8:08 and just two minutes later, Chris O'Connor scored off a feed from Colin Ambler. Virginia's Jack Riley and Peter Lamade answered back to tie it at the end of the first period.

Drexel goalkeeper Bruce Bickford again played well in the cage against one Virginia, making 15 saves. A year ago Bickford made 18 saves in the Dragons' victory in Charlottesville. Freshman Adam Ghitelman came up with nine stops against the Dragons. Virginia outshot Drexel, 40-35, and had the same margin in ground balls. Drexel won the face-off battle, 12-10. Sophomore Zak Fisher was 6-for-8 on draws for Drexel. Brian McDermott had nine of the 10 wins for Virginia.

Drexel returns to action on February 23 at Penn. It will be the first meeting between the neighborhood rivals since the 1994 season. Virginia has its home opener next Saturday against Stony Brook.

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PHILADELPHIA, PA-Virginia scored four unanswered goals to break a 6-all tie and gain an 11-7 win over Drexel before an overflow crowd of 2500 at Vidas Field in the season opener for both teams.

With the victory the Cavaliers avenged last season's season-opening loss when they fell to the Dragons on their home field.

The homestanding Dragons excited the crowd early behind goals from Andew Chapman and Chris O'Connor to take a 2-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Jack Riley notched Virginia's first goal at the 4:38 mark off a nice feed from Garrett Billings. Billings tied his career high with four assists. Senior Peter Lamade, playing for the injured Ben Rubeor on attack. forged the game's first tie with his first goal as a Cavalier late in the quarter.

Kevin Stockel scored an extra-man goal 35 seconds into the second quarter as Drexel retook the lead. The Dragons' advantage was shortlived however as Billings scored back-to-back goals to send Virginia into the lead at 4-3. Drexel matched the Cavaliers' two-goal run behind goals by Ron Garling on extra man and Chapman.

Brian Carroll scored two extra-man goals in the final five minutes of the half as Virginia took a 6-5 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Colin Ambler, who scored both goals in the final 10 seconds to key Drexel's win over Virginia last year, scored his only goal less than two minutes after halftime for the fifth tie of the game.

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2008-02-17