Women's Lacrosse Defeats La Salle, 12-10

Wednesday, March 25

Vidas Field

7:00 p.m.

Drexel University

3-7

La Salle

4-4

La Salle

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

3/25/2015 9:42:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel women's lacrosse team broke out for a season-high 12 goals as the Dragons defeated La Salle on Wednesday night at Vidas Field, 12-10. Milan White and Joelle Hartke each scored three times for Drexel, which utilized a 6-0 run that bridged the first and second halves to seize control of the game.

The win was the tenth in a row for Drexel in its series against La Salle. Hartke added an assist to her three goals for a team-high four points. White was 2-for-3 on free position shots as part of her three-goal evening. Lacey Aghazarian also notched a pair of goals and Emily Kellett contributed a goal and an assist. Devin Nihill, Alissa Watts and Ashley Bupp also scored for Drexel. Teresha Bradley came up with eight saves in holding an opponent to 10 goals or less for the ninth time in 10 games this season.

The Dragons got on the board first when Nihill ended a three-game scoreless drought with her seventh goal of the season, taking a feed from Kellett and scoring in close to put the Dragons up 1-0. La Salle countered with the next two goals of the game, and held a 3-2 lead with 19:08 remaining in the first half after Aghazarian and Claire Andrews traded scores.

That would be the last time the Explorers would get on the scoreboard for a stretch of 23:56 of gametime. Meanwhile, the Dragons got to work. It started with a career first, as Ashley Bupp recorded her first career goal with 13:19 to play in the first half. It came off an assist from Hartke, who fed her from behind the net for Bupp to come in from the right side and score on an overhand shot.

Alissa Watts lit up the scoreboard next, converting a free position attempt into her third goal of the season. That gave Drexel a 4-3 lead, and it would not stop there. Just 33 seconds later, Kellett scored to make it 5-3 with 10:13 remaining in the half. It was her sixth of the year. Milan White's first free position goal followed 2:45 later, and Hartke helped send the Dragons into the break up 7-3 with her unassisted seventh goal of the season at the 5:01 mark.

Drexel held its commanding halftime advantage thanks in large part to a 9-2 edge in draw controls in the opening stanza. Four Dragons - Aghazarian, Eva Winiarski, Nihill and Watts - would pick up two draw controls apiece on the evening.

After White opened the second half scoring with an unassisted goal, La Salle began to assert itself on the draws. The Explorers would win nine of the 12 draw controls in the second half, and slowly crept their way back into the game. The Explorers turned that advantage into five of the game's next seven goals, pulling within three at 10-7 with 15:41 remaining.

Lacey Aghazarian scored a crucial goal for the Dragons with 13:03 left on the clock, another free position score. Though La Salle responded by winning the draw, Drexel put together a pair of outstanding defensive stands, burning off a yellow card in the process. Drexel kept the Explorers off the scoreboard until just 1:57 remained, keeping them from getting off any good looks on free positions and stonewalling them when they brought the ball inside the arc.

La Salle did get off a pair of goals starting with that score at the 1:57 mark, making it an 11-9 game with 1:14 remaining. However, Alissa Watts came up with a critical draw control for the Dragons. The ball found its way to Hartke, who weaved downfield and scored into an empty net to put the Dragons back on top by three. Though the Explorers would add a late goal, Drexel won the ensuing draw to ensure the victory.

The Dragons will now enjoy eight days off before beginning Colonial Athletic Association play. Drexel will host William & Mary when league play gets underway next Friday, April 3, at Vidas Field at 7:00 p.m.