No. 13 Penn State Defeats No. 12 Drexel, 13-6

Saturday, April 6

University Park, PA

1:00

Drexel University

8-2, 3-0CAA

#13 Penn State

7-3, 2-0CAA

Drexel

Penn State

No. 13 Penn State Defeats No. 12 Drexel, 13-6

4/6/2013 2:54:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Penn State scored seven-straight goals in the second half to break open a close game and defeated No. 12 Drexel, 13-6. The Nittany Lions (8-3, 3-0 CAA), ranked 13^th in the nation, won their sixth-straight game and ended the Dragons' four-game winning streak. It was the first league loss for the Dragons, who are now 8-3 overall and 3-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Penn State held a lead for the entire first half, but the Dragons kept it within two goals before halftime. Ryan Belka scored his second goal of the game and his 20^th of the season with 8:41 to play in the third as the Dragons got to within a goal at 5-4. That was as close as Drexel would come as Penn State answered with seven-straight goals to take a commanding 12-4 lead. Gavin Ahern and T.J Sanders scored 23 seconds apart to give the Lions a three-goal lead. Four minutes later, Nick Dolik added his fifth of the season and Sanders scored his fourth of the day with 1:43 left in the third. Penn State opened the fourth period with three more goals, including Forster's fourth of the game, before Belka scored his third of the game to end the run.

Drexel's offense was held in check for most of the first half by the Penn State defensive unit that came into the game ranked fourth in the nation. The Dragons' Belka scored first less than a minute into the game. However, the Dragons were held without a goal for more than 22 minutes. Penn State was able to score three goals during that stretch, all by senior Jack Forster, to take a two-goal lead. Drexel finally got back on the board with 6:51 remaining in the first half. Nick Trizano set up Aaron Prosser for the senior's 11^th goal of the year. Penn State answered with a Sanders score to make it a 4-2 Penn State lead. Drexel was able to trim the lead back down to a goal when Ben McIntosh scored with 2:36 to play before intermission. Drexel's Cal Winkelman made seven saves to keep the Dragons close. Penn State goalkeeper Austin Kaut also had seven saves in the first half and finished the game with 13. He entered the game second in the nation in save percentage.

Forster finished the game with five points to lead the Lions. Sanders scored four times as well and Shane Sturgis added a goal and three assists. Prosser and McIntosh each had a goal and an assist for Drexel, while Trizano set up two goals. Frank Fusco had the other Drexel goal. Winkelman finished the game with 14 saves as the Lions outshot Drexel, 47-23.
Drexel returns to the field next Saturday when it visits the University of Massachusetts.