Shafer's Overtime Goal Lifts Drexel Past Delaware, 9-8

Saturday, April 11

Vidas Field

4:00

Drexel University

6-6, 2-1

Delaware

4-9, 0-3

DELAWARE

Drexel

Photo by: Ryan Samson

Shafer's Overtime Goal Lifts Drexel Past Delaware, 9-8

4/11/2015 6:08:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Philadelphia – Cole Shafer picked up a loose ball and scored the game-winning goal with 2:03 to play in overtime as Drexel defeated Delaware, 9-8, at Vidas Field on Saturday afternoon. Delaware rallied from a three-goal deficit to force the extra period, but Shafer's third goal of the game moved Drexel to 6-6 overall and 2-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play. The Blue Hens fell to 4-9 overall and and 0-3 in league play.

In the extra session, the Dragons' Ryan Belka had possession on the left side of the field in the Delaware end. He headed towards the goal, but was stripped by the Delaware defense in tight. The ball was loose in front, and Shafer, who had been knocked down in front, picked the ball up while on his knees and fired a shot past Brett Anton to give the Dragons their fourth win in the last five games.

The Blue Hens' forced overtime by scoring four of the last five goals in regulation time. Delaware evened the score at 8-8 with just six seconds to play in the contest. Brian Kormondy went to the cage, but was stopped by the Drexel defense. He pivoted back and fed Tom Holland, who went stick side beating Jimmy Joe Granito for the tying score.

Delaware was down 7-4 entering the fourth quarter as Drexel appeared in control of the game. However, the Blue Hens would score three times in a span of 2:19 to tie it up. Kormondy scored his second of the game, this one on the man-up, with 8:31 remaining, cutting the Drexel lead to two. Beau Jones would net an unassisted goal one minute later and then at the 6:12 mark, Holland tied it up at 7-7. Drexel was able to get the lead back when Mitch de Snoo's shot from 15 yards out put the Dragons up by a goal with 4:19 to go. The score would remain the same until Holland's score in the final seconds.

The teams alternated the first five goals of the game as Delaware led 3-2 at the end of the first quarter. Drexel would score the next four goals of the game and held the Hens without a goal for a span of almost 25 minutes as the Dragons took a 6-3 lead. Shafer tied it up and Belka's low to high shot into the upper right corner put Drexel ahead, 4-3. The lead went to two before halftime when Robert Frazee scored a man-up goal with 4:52 to play. In the third quarter Shafer and Frazee sandwiched goals around a Kormondy goal for the Hens. Frazee's second goal was also on the man-up as the Dragons finished 2-for-3 with an extra man in the game.

Shafer had an assist to go with his 11^th career hat trick. Belka finished with two goals and two assists for the Dragons. With his second assist, Belka moved into a tie for 10^th place on the career assist list at the school. Freshman Michael Kay handed out three assists, while de Snoo finished with a pair of goals. Granito continued his solid play, making 14 saves in the cage.

Holland led the Blue Hens with three goals. Kormondy had a pair of goals and an assist and teammate Jackson Finegan finished with two points. Brett Anton made 15 saves in a losing cause for the Blue Hens, who were outshot, 46-35.

The Dragons play their final regular-season road game next Saturday. Drexel will head to Massachusetts to face the UMass Minutemen at 4 p.m. in Amherst. The Blue Hens will visit Fairfield next Saturday.