No. 16 UMass Rallies to Defeat Drexel, 10-9, in CAA Opener

Saturday, March 30

Amherst, Mass.

1 p.m.

Drexel University

4-5, 0-1CAA

#16 UMass

7-3, 1-0CAA

Drexel

Massachusetts

No. 16 UMass Rallies to Defeat Drexel, 10-9, in CAA Opener

3/30/2019 2:58:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - No. 16 UMass rallied from a four-goal halftime deficit to defeat Drexel, 10-9, in the CAA opener for both teams. The Dragons led 9-7 with nine minutes to play, but UMass (7-3) scored three straight in a span of less than three minutes to take the lead and earn the win at Garber Field. It was the sixth straight win for the Minutemen, while Drexel dropped to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in the CAA.

Matt Varian gave Drexel a two goal lead with 9:14 left in the game when he scored an unassisted goal for his second of the game. Jeff Trainer answered less than a minute later for UMass, converting a feed from Kevin Tobin to cut the Drexel lead to 9-8. Tobin then set up Chris Connelly for the tying score at the 7:04 mark. it was the fourth goal of the game for Connelly. The Minutemen scored what proved to be the game winner with just under six minutes to play when Trainer found the net for the second time in the fourth quarter. The Dragons had six minutes to even it, but could not score and left Amherst disappointed after holding the lead for most of the game.

Drexel led 6-2 at intermission after a late goal by Matt Soran, his sixth of the season. However, UMass scored eight times in the second half to complete the comeback.

Reid Bowering led Drexel with yet another three-goal game. Varian scored twice and assisted on a pair of goals. Nick Fox also scored twice for Drexel, while Jack Mulcahy had a goal. Ross Blumenthal made 12 saves for the Dragons. UMass outshot DU, 42-31, and scored a pair of man-up goals. The Drexel man-up unit came into the game as one of the top groups in the nation, but could not score on three tries. The Minutemen won 15 of the 23 face-offs in the game.

The Dragons will look to bounce back Saturday when arch-rival Delaware comes to Vidas Field for an afternoon affair.