Second Half Comeback Stalls as Men's Lacrosse Falls 14-11 to Villanova

Tuesday, February 24

Vidas Field

3:00

Drexel University

0-3

Villanova

2-1

Villanova

DREXEL

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Second Half Comeback Stalls as Men's Lacrosse Falls 14-11 to Villanova

2/24/2015 5:58:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel men's lacrosse team overcame a four-goal second-half deficit by the end of the third quarter, but could not carry momentum over into the fourth as the Dragons fell to Villanova on Tuesday, 14-11. The Dragons, who trailed 8-4 early in the third quarter, scored three straight culminating with a Robert Frazee goal with just 26 seconds left in the period to tie things up at 10 apiece. Villanova responded by netting the first four goals of the final quarter, however, as the Wildcats hung on for the win at Vidas Field.

Cole Shafer and Frazee each netted three goals, with Shafer adding an assist. Ryan Belka had a goal and five assists to help power the Dragons' comeback effort. Mason Pynn also scored twice. Cal Winkelman, who came on in goal after halftime, had six saves. Nick Saputo had an outstanding day at the faceoff X, winning 21 of 28 faceoffs and picking up 18 ground balls.

Villanova's Eric Gartner scored an unassisted goal to get the scoring underway just over four minutes into the proceedings. Less than a minute later, Joseph Rainoldi had an answer for the Dragons, an unassisted score of his own to even things up. After two Wildcat goals, Shafer netted his first off a feed from Belka at the 3:09 mark of the first quarter. Pynn followed, converting on a set-up from Shafer to pull Drexel back even with 1:35 left on the first quarter clock.

That would be the last time the Dragons were even with Villanova until the end of the third quarter. The Wildcats scored just 27 seconds before the end of the first, a goal that would spark a four-goal run for Villanova as they took a 7-3 lead. Drexel went 14:59 between scores, with Pynn's unassisted second goal allowing the Dragons to go into the locker room trailing by just three, 7-4.

After Villanova's Jack Curran, who would finish with three second-half goals and an assist, scored 51 seconds into the third quarter, the Dragons came to life. Frazee wasted no time getting on the board after the ensuing faceoff, won by Saputo and dished off to Jacob O'Donnell, who found Frazee on the right side to power home the score. Just 16 more seconds elapsed before Frazee struck again, this time earning Hank Brown the assist after another Saputo faceoff victory.

Curran scored again to stem the tide, but Shafer answered at the 10:35 mark, once again taking a feed from Belka and putting it past Villanova goaltender Dan Willis. One more Wildcats goal put Villanova on top 10-7, but Shafer, Belka and Frazee would score the next three goals of the game over a span of 6:42 to pull the Dragons even. Jules Raucci assisted on Belka's goal, while Belka himself set up the other two.

The Dragons were able to come back thanks to Saputo's day with faceoffs as well as their care with the ball. Drexel turned the ball over just twice in the third quarter after giving it away seven times in the first. The fourth quarter, however, saw the Dragons win five of six faceoffs only to turn the ball over four times. Villanova got the lead back with 12:36 to play on a Danny Seibel goal. Seibel's four goals led the Wildcats. They would not relinquish this lead, as Villanova held Drexel off the scoreboard for 14:35 to open the fourth quarter and 15:01 overall stretching back to the third. O'Donnell netted his first career goal with 25 ticks remaining, but it was too late for the Dragons as Villanova emerged with the win.

Drexel will be back in search of its first win on Saturday when the Dragons head south to College Park to take on Maryland. That game will begin at 12:00 p.m.