Dragons Down Michigan, 9-7

Saturday, March 21

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00

Drexel University

3-5

Michigan

4-4

Drexel

Michigan

3/21/2015 2:27:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Ann Arbor, Mich. – Drexel's Ryan Belka scored a transition goal late in the fourth quarter and added an empty net goal in the final seconds as Drexel came away with an 9-7 win at Michigan in the Big House on Saturday afternoon. The Dragons improved to 3-5 with the win, while Michigan evened its record at 4-4.

Belka and Cole Shafer each had hat tricks for the Dragons. Jimmy Joe Granito had his best game in the cage as a Dragon. Granito had a career-high 11 saves in recording his third victory in four decisions.

Belka picked up a loose ball near midfield and raced towards the cage. He fired a shot home with just 4:09 to play to break a 7-7 deadlock. Michigan had a possession with less than two minutes to play, but Drexel's Jake Gennosa intercepted a pass to get the ball back. After passing the ball around the perimeter, there was a scramble for the loose ball. Belka got possession and with just one second left iced the game, completing his hat trick.

The teams entered the third quarter tied at six. Mitch de Snoo gave Drexel a brief lead with 8:08 to play in the game. After a collision out front, the junior retained possession and fired a shot into the top part of the net, putting the Dragons up by one. However, as they did most of the day, the Wolverines answered. Mike Francia took a nice pass from David Joseph right in front of the cage and drilled a shot home to tie it at 7-7 with seven minutes to play.

The second half started with the Dragons ahead by just a goal at 5-4. Shafer and Peter Krauss swapped goals as the Dragons held on to a one-goal late into the third quarter. However, Michigan's Will Meter came from behind the net and evened it at 6-6 with 3:11 to play in the third period.

Drexel got on the board first midway through the first quarter. Ryan Belka's shot was saved by Michigan goalkeeper Gerald Logan, but the rebound bounced high off the turf. Drexel sophomore Cole Shafer grabbed the loose ball and found the net, making it 1-0 at the 6:36 mark. It was the 50^th career goal for Shafer, who is now in his second season.

In the second quarter, the Dragons added to the lead with unassisted goals from Jules Raucci and Mason Pynn. Raucci fired a shot from the right side into the far corner for his eighth goal of the year. Less than two minutes later, Pynn scored from straight on about 10 yards away, giving the Dragons a three-goal cushion. The Wolverines' Mike Hernandez got Michigan on the scoreboard at the 9:29 mark. He took the ball over midfield on his own, raced down and beat Drexel keeper Granito to make it 3-1. The Dragons' Shafer answered when he fired a rocket from the right side from 10 yards out after taking a feed from Robert Frazee from behind the net. Michigan quelled Drexel's momentum by scoring three straight goals, including two in span of 11 seconds. Mike Francia set up Peter Kraus at the 8:14 mark. Michigan won the draw and Kraus set up Francia, who scored from right outside the crease making it 4-3. Three minutes later, Krause and Francia teamed up again for a goal. This time Francia's goal came on the man-up and tied the score at four. Drexel's Ryan Belka finally stopped the run with an unassisted tally at 3:04 giving the lead back to the visitors as the Dragons went to intermission up 5-4.

Krauss finished with two goals and two assists for Michigan. Francia scored three times and had one assist. Drexel outshot Michigan, 41-30. Logan had 13 saves in a losing effort for Michigan.

Drexel returns home for a mid-week game this week. The Dragons host Binghamton at Vidas Field on Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Colonial Athletic Association play will start on Saturday for the Dragons, when Fairfield, the newest CAA member, comes to Vidas for a 4 p.m. face-off.