Women's Lacrosse Stifles UC Davis, 8-3

Saturday, March 26

Davis, Calif.

3:00 p.m. EST

Drexel University

7-2

UC Davis

3-3

Drexel

UC Davis

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

3/26/2016 5:49:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. – A defensive struggle saw the Drexel women's lacrosse team tighten the screws on the host UC Davis Aggies on Saturday afternoon as the Dragons allowed just one goal over the final 47:41 of the game to pull away to an 8-3 victory. Drexel, which completed a perfect 2-0 trip to California with the victory, fell behind 2-0 before scoring eight of the game's last nine goals.

The Dragons (7-2) were slow to get started offensively, but were ultimately buoyed by their defense. UC Davis (3-3) did get off to a quick start, pulling out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Taylor Cuenin and Shannon Cross. Cross' goal, scored with 17:41 to play in the first half, would prove to be the final score the Aggies could manage in the first half.

Drexel lit up the scoreboard for the first time just over halfway through the opening period when Devin Nihill netted her 19th of the season, taking an assist from Nadia Pelham-Lacey with 14:41 to play. That goal broke the dam for the Dragons, who scored twice more in the next 2:51 to grab a 3-2 lead. Both of those goals came from senior Emily Duffey, unassisted scores that were her 17th and 18th of the season.

Duffey's goals sent the Dragons into halftime with a 3-2 lead, and Pelham-Lacey gave them some breathing room with her 16th goal of the year at the 22:56 mark. That goal, assisted by Duffey, would prove to be the game-winner.

The two defensive units battled back and forth for the next 12 minutes before UC Davis finally got another goal. Sam Axenroth scored with 10:27 remaining to pull the Aggies back within a goal, ending a 37:14 scoreless drought for the team.

Despite that goal, UC Davis was never able to get anything else going offensively. Meanwhile, Drexel once again experienced a flurry of offensive activity late in the game, starting with Duffey's third goal of the day with 5:46 to play, once again giving the Dragons a two-goal margin. That score was only the beginning of a 4-0 Drexel game-ending run, featuring goals from Pelham-Lacey and Nihill in addition to Lauren Gerrie's 12th tally of the year.

Drexel held the Aggies to just 15 shots on the afternoon, nine of which tested goalkeeper Carlee Ries. The junior improved her personal record on the season to 7-2 thanks in part to her six saves. Eva Winiarski, who has already won a Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week award this season, continued her strong year with four ground balls, three caused turnovers and three draw controls. Madeline DiBrino also remained a steadying force for the Dragons' defense, registering a pair of ground balls and two caused turnovers.

The three goals scored by UC Davis marked the fewest by a Drexel opponent since George Washington was held to three in a 10-3 Drexel season-opening win on Feb. 16, 2013.

The Dragons will now return to the East Coast following their victories at Fresno State and UC Davis this week in the Golden State. Drexel has just one more non-conference tune-up remaining before CAA play begins. The Dragons will visit Penn State on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. before opening league play at James Madison on Friday, Apr. 8.