Fourth Quarter Rally Sends No. 3 Virginia Past Drexel, 11-8

Saturday, February 20

Vidas Field

1:00 p.m.

Drexel University

#3 Virginia

Fourth Quarter Rally Sends No. 3 Virginia Past Drexel, 11-8

2/20/2010 3:48:26 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Philadelphia - Drexel led third-ranked Virginia through three quarters but the Cavaliers scored five fourth-quarter goals to defeat the Dragons in their season-opener, 11-8. Scott Perri scored a team-high three goals, including a score with 5:40 remaining in the game to tie the score at 8-8. Mark Manos, the 2009 CAA Rookie of the Year, had an outstanding game between the pipes as he made 17 saves. Steele Stanwick scored three goals, all in the fourth quarter, and added two assists to lead the Cavaliers past Drexel in front of a standing-room only crowd of 1,472 at Vidas Field.

The Dragons took a 7-6 lead into the final period but Stanwick knotted the score just 38 seconds into the quarter before giving Virginia an 8-7 lead just over two minutes later on another score. Both teams had chances over the next seven minutes but it was Perri who capitalized in front of the net after taking a pass from freshman Aaron Prosser to tie the score. With 3:37 remaining, Stanwick delivered his third score, this one coming from the right side of the field, in what turned out to be the game-winner. Drexel looked to equalize but were turned away with Virginia gaining possession with time winding down. The Dragons turned up their defensive pressure with Manos leaving the crease to try and create a turnover but the Cavaliers iced the game with goals from Rhamel Bratton and Chris Bocklet to give Virginia a three-goal victory.

Drexel opened the game with an impressive first period as the Dragons won all six of the period's face-offs and jumped out to an early lead. Colin Ambler got the crowd cheering early with a goal just 45 seconds into the game. After Connor English tied the score, Perri finished off a pass from Ambler to give Drexel the lead. Just nine seconds later, Zak Fisher won the face-off by scooping up the ball and raced in front of the net and beat Adam Ghitelman to give the Dragons a 3-1 edge. Adam Dennis capped the first-period scoring with a tally with just 1:06 remaining that handed Virginia a three-goal deficit.

The Cavaliers responded with a big second quarter that saw the visitors reel off five straight goals to take a 6-4 lead before Kevin Stockel connected after taking a pass from Dennis. After halftime, Drexel's defense stepped up to shut out the Cavaliers in the third period while Ambler and Perri scored to give the Dragons the lead entering the final stanza. Manos stopped all five shots on goal the Cavaliers managed in the period including a save on a one-on-none breakaway just before the end of the period that sent the Vidas Field crowd into a frenzy. But the Cavaliers came through with five goals in the fourth quarter to evade the Dragons' upset bid.

Virginia outshot Drexel, 46-30, including a 15-5 edge in the pivotal fourth quarter. Drexel's Dana Wilber racked up a game-high 10 groundballs as he came up with many key loose balls on defense and on face-offs. The Dragons won 13 of the game's 23 face-offs with Fisher leading Drexel with wins in seven of his 10 visits to the "x". Ambler totaled two goals and an assist but was charged with seven turnovers. Ghitelman made eight stops in the net for Virginia to earn the victory.