Louisville Edges Women's Lacrosse, 9-8

Sunday, March 17

Vidas Field

1:00

Drexel University

6-2

Louisville

7-1

LOU

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

3/17/2013 4:10:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Philadelphia - The Dragons dropped a close decision 9-8 to Louisville in a tightly contested women's lacrosse game on Sunday afternoon at Vidas Field. Despite being down 3-0 at the start of the first half, Drexel earned a 6-5 lead at halftime. Louisville outscored the Dragons, 4-2, in the final 30 minutes to edge Drexel by one-point. The visiting Cardinals held an advantage in shots, 23-12, and draw controls, 10-9. The Dragons dropped to 6-2 overall and 3-1 at home.

Louisville's Kaylin Morissette helped the Cardinals to a three-goal lead in the opening minutes of the game. At 19:36, junior Kelly Palace connected with Jessica Rudloff cutting the deficit to two points, 3-1. Sophomore Alissa Watts and Amanda Norcini netted two more goals to tie the game, 3-3. With just under 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Louisville's Monica Negron and Erika Eipp gave the Cardinals a 5-3 advantage. Drexel answered back with three straight goals to retake the lead, 6-5, at halftime.

Morissette scored her fourth goal off of a free position shot at the beginning of the second half. Louisville's Eipp helped the Cardinals pull ahead by one-goal less than a minute later. At 22:18, Joran had a successful free position attempt to even the score for the fourth time, 7-7. The Cardinal's Eipp and Colleen O'Malley's goals moved Louisville ahead by two, 9-7, with just over 10 minutes left in the game. Drexel's Watts converted on a free position attempt and looked to create momentum for Drexel. The Cardinals worked the ball around the field in the remaining minutes of play and held on to the one-goal lead until the game clock expired.

Joran and Watts led the attack with two goals each. Joran has scored in all of the Dragons' contests so far this season and leads the team with 21 goals and 27 points. Watts tied her season-high with a pair of goals. Maiden, Rudloff and Palace tallied a goal and assist for Drexel, while teammate Norcini also netted a goal against the Cardinals. Maiden is tied for ninth on Drexel's all-time leaderboard with 99 career goals.

Kopenhaver won four draw controls and caused two turnovers. Redshirt freshman Summer O'Donnell set a season-high with two caused turnovers and two draw controls. Senior defender Kaitlin Harris also caused Louisville to turn the ball over two times. Sophomore goalkeeper Teresha Bradley made seven saves for the second-straight game tying her career-best for the third time this season. She now has 39 stops.

The Drexel women's lacrosse team will host Penn State on Friday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Vidas Field.