Red Storm Rallies to Defeat Drexel, 10-9

Saturday, March 14

Queens, N.Y.

1:00

Drexel University

2-5

St. John's

2-5

Drexel

St. John's

3/14/2015 2:54:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Queens, N.Y. – St. John's scored the final four goals of the game to turn a three-goal deficit into a come-from-behind win against Drexel on Saturday afternoon. Nick Sherry scored in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to give the Red Storm the lead and the Dragons were held scoreless for the final 19:40 of the contest. Both teams are now 2-5.

Sherry scored what proved to be the game-winner with 13:26 to play, when he beat Jimmy Joe Granito after being set up by James Bonanno. The Dragons had their chances with 12 shots in the final quarter, but Harry Burke made three saves and nine shots went wide. Drexel had three turnovers in the final five minutes of the game and seven in the fourth quarter as the Dragons' comeback bid came up short.

The Red Storm had a big third quarter and got right back in the game. Drexel killed off a penalty, but turned the ball over in front of its own cage. Stefan Diachenko picked it up and threw a behind-the-back shot past Drexel keeper Jimmy Joe Granito, making it 7-5. A few minutes later, James Bonnano scored a somewhat controversial goal. His bounce shot appeared to hit the cross bar, but the referees ruled that is went under the pipe. Drexel answered with two goals of its own, when Shafer completed his hat trick and Belka set up Raucci. However, the Red Storm took the momentum right back by scoring three straight goals in a span of 2:15 and knotting the game at 9-9. Diachenko started the comeback as his scoop shot off a ground ball made it a two-goal Drexel lead. Jack O'Leary and Eric Dejohn finished the run as the teams started the final 15 minutes even at 9-9.

Drexel appeared in control of the game as it opened up a four-goal lead on three occasions in the first half. The Dragons opened the scoring with 5:24 left in the first quarter. Mitch de Snoo and Cole Shafer converted a give-and-go to put the Dragons ahead. Shafer fed de Snoo at the crease and his quick shot went over the shoulder of St. John's keeper Burke. With just over a minute left in the opening frame, Shafer scored first of the game as he rifled a shot from low to high. The Red Storm was able to slice the deficit in half when Stefan Diachenko scored with just nine seconds remaining to make it.

The Dragons opened the second quarter with three straight goals. Jules Raucci dodged a Red Storm defender and fired a shot high into the net. Belka added an extra man goal two minutes later. Shafer completed the 3-0 run when Raucci found him alone at the crease for his second of the game. St. John's broke the run when Diachenko scored his second of the game. The teams swapped the next four goals, with Nick Saputo and Belka scoring for the Dragons and Chris Hughes and Brian Gaffney for the Red Storm. The teams went to the break with Drexel ahead, 7-4.

Raucci led the Drexel offense with a pair of goals and three assists. The five points were a career-high for the junior. Cole Shafer recorded a hat trick and an assist, while Ryan Belka finished the day with two goals and two assists. Nick Saputo won 12 of 23 face-offs. The senior had 10 ground balls and also picked up his first goal of the season. Granito made nine saves as he lost for the first time in three outings as a Dragon.

Diachenko scored four goals to lead St. John's. Bonanno was one of six players to score one goal. He also had two assists, the second coming on the game-winner. Burke turned aside 11 Drexel scoring chances in the cage for the Red Storm.

Drexel will play next Saturday at the University of Michigan. It will be the first meeting between the two teams.