Cuocco and Simpson Power Drexel to Victory over Fairfield, 10-9

Saturday, March 11

Philadelphia, Pa.

1:00 p.m.

Drexel University

5-2

Fairfield

4-3

Fairfield

Drexel

Photo by: Sideline Photos

Cuocco and Simpson Power Drexel to Victory over Fairfield, 10-9

3/11/2023 5:06:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Dragon's defense held off the Stags late in the fourth quarter to earn a 10-9 victory from Vidas Field on Saturday afternoon. Jenika Cuocco earned 14 saves and Hayleigh Simpson found a career-high six goals to lead DU. Drexel closes out its non-conference schedule at 5-2 as it heads into CAA play next weekend at Towson.

BY THE NUMBERS

Defenders Peighton Bement and Camryn Ryan each caused three turnovers.
Corinne Bednarik scored two free-position goals and captured five draws.
Leading the way in the circle, Maura Cissel found five draw controls.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Drexel wasted no time as Simpson fired a shot past the Stags goalie 44 seconds into the first quarter. After two consecutive goals by Fairfield, Bednarik scored a pair of free-position goals to put Drexel up 3-2.
Simpson earned a hat-trick in the second quarter to extend the Dragon's advantage to three goals. FFU answered back with two tallies as the first half ended with DU on top 6-5.
The third quarter saw five different lead changes and the score was 8-8 at the end of the quarter. Bridget Finley and Simpson scored in the timeframe.
Simpson earned her final goal of the afternoon with 13 minutes to go to lift Drexel to a 9-8 advantage. Six minutes later, Fairfield scored an equalizer.
The Stags were issued a yellow card with three minutes left. Bridget Finley found Alex Wall on the player up advantage, in front of the goal to give Drexel a one-goal lead with 1:59 left in the contest. In the final minute, Cuocco held strong to earn two huge saves in the cage and the DU defense forced an FFU turnover.

UP NEXT
The Dragons travel to Towson on Saturday, March 18, for a rematch of last season's CAA title game. Drexel defeated the Tigers 11-10 in OT to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The opening draw from LacrosseTV is scheduled for 4 p.m.