No. 7 Villanova Edges Drexel, 12-9

Tuesday, February 27

Villanova, Pa.

4 p.m.

Drexel University

0-3

#7 Villanova

4-0

Drexel

Villanova

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

2/27/2018 5:42:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Villanova, Pa. – No. 7 Villanova (3-0) scored five times in the final nine minutes as the Wildcats edged Drexel, 12-9. Marshal King scored a career-high four goals, but for the second straight season, Villanova rallied from a fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Dragons.

Villanova's Keegan Kahn scored two of his three goals in the fourth quarter, including what proved to be the game winner with 5:23 to go in the contest. Devin McNamara then scored the 'Cats final two goals to give Villanova its fourth straight win to start the season. The Wildcats outshot the Dragons, 14-3, over the final 15 minutes and doubled up the Dragons in shots in the game (52-25).

The Wildcats got on the board first when Christian Cuccinello dodged in past a Drexel defender to score from in close three minutes into the game. A minute later, Drexel evened the score when Matt Varian came in from behind the net to beat Nick Testa. Villanova answered by scoring four straight goals to take a 5-1 lead. Colin Crowley scored two in a row in the closing minutes of the first quarter. He then set up an extra man goal by Timmy Hardy to start the second period. Five minutes into the second quarter, Danny Seibel rifled a shot past Chre Teitelbaum, who was making his first career start for Drexel, and the 'Cats were ahead by four.

However, Drexel answered by scoring four straight goals to send the game to intermission tied at 5-5. The rally started as Drexel won a contested face off and Peter Rayhill picked up the loose ball. The freshman fed Reid Bowering, who dodged a defender to make it 5-2. After that goal, Marshal King took over the second quarter. The junior scored three straight times, including a highlight-reel goal to make it 5-3. King took a feed from Varian and scored on an underhand behind the back shot that found the upper corner of the net. He scored a man-up goal 1:11 later and then completed the natural hat trick by converting a pass from freshman Luke Stansfield to even the score at five.

Drexel scored four of the six third quarter goals to break the tie and take a 9-7 at the end of three quarters. Ryan Genord finished the scoring with six seconds to go in the frame. Will Manganiello, Chris Friedman and Marshal King each found the net in the third as the Dragons held the lead.

Dan Lanham took the majority of the face offs for Drexel and won 10 of his 20 draws. Teitelbaum came up with 11 saves in the game for the Dragons, including five in the third during Drexel's scoring run. On the defensive side, senior Jake Kiernan and Cam Harris each caused three turnovers for DU.

Crowley led the Wildcats with four points. Seibel. Cuccinello and McNamara each finished with two goals and an assist. Testa picked up the win in the cage, making eight saves.

Drexel returns to Vidas Field to face Marist in a non-league game on Saturday. Face off will be at 5 p.m.