Drexel University
Delaware
Dragons Defeat Delaware, 10-8, and Earn Final CAA Playoff Spot
4/25/2009 5:49:18 PM | Men's Lacrosse
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), the #3 seed in the tournament, will play 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.
