Overtime Heroics Advance Drexel to CAA Championship Game

Friday, May 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 PM

Drexel University

13-1

Towson University

9-8

Towson

DUWLAX

Overtime Heroics Advance Drexel to CAA Championship Game

5/7/2021 9:26:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va – For the first time in program history, the Drexel women's lacrosse team advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship game after an exciting 15-14 overtime victory over Towson.

Senior captain Courtney Dietzel sank the game winner after forcing a free position opportunity in the opening minute of overtime. The Dragons improved to 13-1 on the season heading into the championship on Sunday. Drexel will face the winner of No. 2 James Madison and No. 3 Hofstra.

OVERVIEW
* Drexel struck first with a quick fake and lefty goal from Corinne Bednarik to put the Dragons on the board early.
* After an answer from the Tigers, Karson Harris stormed the opposing circle opening the door for Jamie Schneidereith to go end to end, pick up the rebound and sink the Dragons second of the day. Harris then added one of her own in the 22^nd minute to give Drexel a two-goal lead.
* Bednarik continued to be a driving force for the Dragons offense, netting her second of the day on a ground ball dish from Harris.
* The Tigers fired back with four-straight goals to take a 6-4 lead with 10 minutes to play. Jamie Schneidereith moved the Dragons back within one a minute later, tallying her second of the day and 19^th of the season.
* Harris forced back-to-back free position opportunities, cashing in on the second attempt. Bednarik then completed a hat trick performance with the Dragons second free position goal before the half, tying the game for the third time at seven.
* Lucy Schneidereith joined the scoring run with a pair of goals to give Drexel the lead for the first time since the 18^th minute. Schneidereith's goal marked her 50^th goal of the season. The Tigers made it a one goal game with seconds remaining before the half.
* Despite the Tigers attacking first to start the second half, Lucy Schneidereith marched back to retake the lead on an assist from Colleen Grady. The senior then forced her way into the crease to nail a goal down and in.
* The Tigers went on a 4-0 run, holding the Dragons scoreless for 11 minutes before Grady broke the drought with her second goal to move Drexel back within two.
*The Dragons bullied their way back from a three-goal deficit to net three straight of their own, tying the game at 14. Goals from Jamie Schneidereith and Harris not only evened the playing field but put Drexel at four hat trick performances on the day.
* Neither team was able to take the advantage before the buzzer, sending the game to overtime play.
* After winning the first possession, the Dragons stormed the Tigers defense behind the momentum of senior captain Courtney Dietzel. Dietzel crashed the zone, forcing a free position shot that she sank for the game winner and her lone goal of the day.

HIGHLIGHTS
* The Dragons semifinal victory marks the first time in program history that Drexel will make an appearance in the CAA Championship matchup.
* Grady's solo assist gave her the program record for assists in a single season with 34, which passed Kerry Kelly, class of '07. The senior is only three assists away from breaking the program record for career assists.
* Lucy Schneidereith's first goal of the day marked her 50th goal of the season. .
* The Dragons victory came behind four hat trick performances, including Bednarik, Harris and the Schneidereith sisters.
* The four hat tricks tied the Dragons record for single game goals in the conference tournament. The last player to do it was Alyse Maiden against Towson in the 2012 semifinals.
* Harris led the team with five points (three goals and two assists) while also tallying three ground balls, two caused turnovers and eight draw controls. The midfielder has recorded three or more goals in all but one contest this season.

BY THE NUMBERS
* Through 60 minutes of play, the Dragons and the Tigers were tied seven different times.
* Drexel held a significant advantage in the draw circle controlling 20 draws to just 11 for Towson. The Dragons also out shot the Tigers 28-21.
* Goalie Zoe Bennett recorded seven saves for the third straight game in a row.
* The Dragons four hat tricks against the Tigers is the 10^th time this season that Drexel has had three or more players score three or more goals.

UP NEXT
The Dragons advance to the CAA Championship game on Sunday, May 9 at 12 p.m. where they will play the winner of the second semifinal matchup between JMU and Hofstra.