High Point Edges Drexel in Season Opener

Saturday, February 15

High Point, N.C.

12 p.m.

Drexel University

0-1

High Point

1-2

Drexel

High Point Panthers

Photo by: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

2/15/2020 3:24:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point scored four straight goals in the fourth quarter to edge Drexel, 16-15, in the Dragons season-opener. Matthew Varian had six points to lead the Dragons, while Reid Bowering and Collin Mailman each scored four times.

Drexel broke a 12-12 tie with a pair of extra-man goals in the fourth quarter. Varian got the first one just 1:20 into the final period and Bowering made it a two-goal game with 7:43 to play. However, the Panthers (1-2) scored the next four goals to take a 16-14 lead with 2:45 to go. The Dragons did not go quietly and came within inches of tying it up. Ryan Genord made a nice dodge toward the cage from the wing and rifled a shot past High Point goalkeeper Parker Green with just 1:19 left. Trailing by one score, Drexel's Jimmeh Koita won the face-off clean and headed towards the goal. Koita gave Bowering a pass on the doorstep, but the All-American candidate's shot that would have tied the game, hit the post. The Panthers came up with possession and picked up their first win of the year after losing to both No. 4 Maryland and No. 7 Duke.

Varian finished the day with three goals and three assists as he continued to move up Drexel career assist and scoring lists. Varian now has 68 career assists which puts him in ninth place all-time at the school. He passed Colin Ambler and Ryan Belka on that list this afternoon. Varian also moved past Ben McIntosh in career points. The senior now has 146 career points.

Bowering picked up his 22nd career hat trick and now has 106 career goals. Mailman tied a career high with his four goals. The Dragons outshot High Point, 47-42, despite losing the face-off battle, 22-13.

The third quarter featured nine goals and two ties. Bowering and Mailman each had two of their team-high four goals in the quarter. Five different Panthers found the net in the period. Drexel goalkeeper Ross Blumenthal made six of his 16 saves in the third as the teams headed to the final frame tied at 12.

The Dragons rebounded from a rough start to take a one-goal lead at intermission. The Panthers scored twice in the opening three minutes and had three man-up goals in the first quarter. Drexel was whistled for four face-off violations, which twice put the Panthers up a man. Nick Fox and Aidan Coll each had a goal early in the game, but High Point rattled off three straight to take a 6-2 lead with 3:22 left in the first quarter. Mailman scored an unassisted goal one minute later, and that started a 6-1 Drexel run.

Varian and High Point's Hunter Vines exchanged goals early in the second period before Drexel started chipping away and got back in the game. The Dragons scored the final four goals of the half as four different player found the back of the net during the run. Coll, Mailman and Varian scored in a span of five minutes to tie the game up. With just 3:43 remaining in the half, Bowering, who was held scoreless to this point, picked up a loose ball in front of the Panther cage and gave Drexel its first lead of the day at 8-7.

High Point was led by Asher Nolting, who scored two and handed out three assists. Vines had a hat trick and four points. Green recorded 15 saves in picking up the win.

Drexel will be back in action next weekend at UAlbany. The Dragons and Great Danes will play Saturday at 1 p.m.