Dragons Down Saint Joseph's for Second Straight Win, 12-8

Sunday, March 12

Vidas Field

1 p.m.

Drexel University

2-4

Saint Joseph's

3-4

St. Joseph's

Drexel

Dragons Down Saint Joseph's for Second Straight Win, 12-8

3/12/2017 3:04:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Philadelphia – Freshman Reid Bowering recorded a career-high six points as Drexel downed Saint Joseph's, 12-8, at Vidas Field on Sunday afternoon. Cole Shafer scored four times, including the 100th of his career, and Jimmy Joe Granito made 16 saves as the Dragons improved to 2-4. The Hawks fell to 3-4.

Drexel scored two early third-quarter goals on the man-up to take its first lead of the game. Shafer put home a feed from Jacob O'Donnell to tie it and after an offside penalty, Nick Valentino found Robert Frazee and the lefty made it 7-6. The lead lasted for a little under six minutes as Jason Kelly scored his fourth goal of the game to even the score at 7-7. Drexel grabbed the momentum back and control of the game by scoring the next four goals, three in the third and another to start the fourth. Shafer put the Dragons ahead for good with 4:53 to go in the third. The Dragons then scored twice in the final minute to take a three-goal lead heading into the fourth. Shafer set up the first of the two as he appeared to take a shot, but found Bowering on the doorstep for the freshman's third score of the game. O'Donnell scored with just ticks remaining in the quarter. Marshal King finished the run with an unassisted tally early in the fourth. Chris Blewitt's goal for the Hawks at the 11:15 mark cut the lead to three, but that would be the last score of the game for the visitors. Granito made four saves in the quarter to keep the Hawks from getting any closer.

The Dragons found themselves in a hole early in the game as the Hawks raced out to an early 4-1 lead. Kyle Cain opened the scoring just 59 seconds into the game. The Dragons evened the score when Bowering set up Rainoldi, who rifled a shot past T.J. Jones at the 10:16 mark. Off the next face off Austin Smith picked up the ground ball and the long stick found the cage just 12 seconds after the Dragons had tied it. Jason Kelly then scored two times in the span of less than a minute to put the Hawks up by three and force Drexel into calling a timeout. The game would stay at 4-1 until the second quarter, when Drexel scored three straight to even it at 4-4. Shafer had two of those, while Bowering had the other.

Bowering finished the day with four goals and two assists for Drexel. The rookie now has six goals and 10 points in his last two games. Shafer became just the ninth Dragon to score 100 career goals. He now has 17 this season and 101 in his career. He passed Ben McIntosh and Brian Diener with his fourth goal today to move into seventh on Drexel's career list. Granito had his best game of the season with the 16 saves. Matt Klinges picked up six ground balls in the win, while Michael Meurer forced three turnovers for Brian Voelker's club. Drexel's special teams had a hand in the victory. The man-down unit held the Hawks without a goal in five attempts. On the other end of the field, Drexel was 3-for-4 with the extra man.

Kelly led the Hawks with four goals. Cain added a pair, while Blewitt scored one and assited on another. Danny Manning won 13 of the game's 22 face-offs. The Hawks had 34 ground balls to Drexel's 25.

The Dragons will play two straight road games to end the month. Drexel will head to Queens on Saturday to face St. John's and will then visit Providence on March 26. The Dragons next home game will be on April 1 when Towson comes to Vidas Field for a 4 p.m. face-off.