Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
#19 St. John's
Michaelsen Leads No. 18 St. John's Past Drexel, 8-6
3/7/2009 2:47:17 PM | Men's Lacrosse
St. John's Trevor Michaelsen scored five goals and added two assists as the 18th-ranked Red Storm edged Drexel, 8-6. The Dragons were led by Kyle Bergman who contributed three goals while Colin Ambler added a pair of scores. Mark Manos made 17 saves for Drexel who dropped to 1-3 on the season. St. John's, who stunned No. 5 Georgetown last week, remained perfect at 4-0.
The Dragons opened the game with a quick score as Nick Kusturiss won the opening face-off and Ambler scored less than a minute later on an Adam Dennis pass. They extended the lead to 2-0 as Bergman notched his first goal of the game with 7:49 remaining in the first period. After stopping the first four shots on goal, Manos was finally beaten with 1:35 to go in the first as Michalsen recorded his first score of the day.
St. John's knotted the score as Michaelsen picked up a man-up goal after a Matt Munoz penalty for holding. Drexel killed off the next two man-down situtations as the score remained tied until late in the half. With just 1:13 remaining, Carl Iacona scored for the home team after Drexel was unable to clear the ball as the Red Storm headed to halftime with a 3-2 lead.
After halftime, Manos saved a Harry Kutner shot after St. John's won the opening face-off. The Dragons were able to clear the ball and eventually find Ambler for his second goal of the day. With just under eight minutes remaining, Adam Dennis and Greg Casey each had opportunities to give Drexel the lead but were both turned away by goalie Gavin Buckley. On the St. John's possession following the saves, Michaelsen scored again to but the Red Storm ahead once again. With just 43 seconds remaining, Bergman knotted the scored the score with his second goal but Brian Neary was whistled for a one-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Malcolm Miles was able to convert the extra-man opportunity after receiving a pass from Michaelsen and the Red Storm headed to the fourth period with a one-goal advantage.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, St. John's looked to pull away after Drexel's Matt McCormick took a one-minute penalty for slashing. Manos was up for the challenge, however, as he made two saves then picked up a groundball that led a successful clear to kill the penalty. A shot by Scott Perri that would have tied the game sailed wide and the Dragons turned the ball over without getting another shot on the possession. St. John's successfully cleared and Michaelsen continued to haunt Drexel as he scored on an unassisted goal with just over seven minutes remaining. Michaelsen picked up an assist with 4:28 remaining and his final goal of the game with 2:52 to go as he helped put the game out of reach as St. John's led, 8-4. The Dragons scored a pair of goals with less than a minute to go, but it was too late as the Red Storm picked up the win.
St. John's held a 47-30 advantage in shots but Drexel's face-off unit won 11 of the game's 17 meetings at the "X". Buckley made 12 saves for St. John's while Manos recorded 17 stops. Andy Lamb made his Drexel debut in the game with 2:20 remaining and was unchallenged in goal.
Drexel returns to action on Saturday, March 14 with as the Dragons host Albany at 3:00 p.m.
