Drexel Takes Down No. 16 Navy on the Road, 13-12

Wednesday, March 6

Annapolis, Md.

6 p.m.

Drexel University

4-2

Navy

5-1

Drexel

Navy

Photo by: Sideline Photos

Drexel Takes Down No. 16 Navy on the Road, 13-12

3/6/2024 8:52:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Annapolis, Md. - Two fourth quarter goals from Allison Drake helped the Dragons knock off #16 Navy in Annapolis, handing the Midshipmen their first loss of the season. Drake set a career high with four goals in the non-conference contest. This is the second straight win over a top 25 team for DU, following a 10-8 victory over #25 Penn State at Vidas Field. With the win, Drexel moves to 4-2 on the year, with Navy moving to 5-1.

BY THE NUMBERS

Corinne Bednarik recorded her fifth hat trick on the year and collected five draw controls
Kate Marano had a career night with three points on a goal and two assists, she also picked up three ground balls
Jenika Cuocco earned eight saves and five ground balls
Ellie Wall scored the first two goals of her career
Both teams had an even first half with 13 shots and going 8-8 on clears.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Drexel took advantage of an early free position shot as Molly Weygand capitalized on the opportunity to score her second goal of the season to take the 1-0 lead. Navy's Mikayla Williams returned the favor with a free position goal of her own to tie the game at one apiece at the 9:29 mark. After another goal from the Midshipmen, Ellie Wall evened things up. The freshman fired through the top of the net to score her first goal of her career.
The Mids went on the run to begin the second quarter. Navy scored three times in just over a minute to break the lead open 5-2. The Dragons made a quick comeback, first with a quick goal from the Philadelphia native Bea Buckley. Allison Drake joined the party to cut the lead down to just one. Navy then put two goals together of its own thanks to Mikayla Williams and Emily Messinese to add to the lead 7-4. Corinne Bednarik soon gave the Dragons a spark near the end of the first half. The senior battled through multiple defenders to smash the back of the net to make it 7-5 Navy. The Midshipmen were given a yellow card on the play, giving Drexel the free draw control and the advantage. DU did not let the opportunity go to waste, with Bednarik scoring just 34 seconds later to slice the lead to one. Kate Marano then tallied on a free position to send both teams to the half tied at seven.
Drexel took their second lead of the night at the 13:47 mark, with Drake burying the back of the net for her seventh goal of the year. Alex Wall followed up with her eighth goal of the year, adding to the lead 9-7. Bednarik made it three goals in the quarter for the Dragons, racing around her defender for the hat trick and the 10-7 advantage. The Dragons held the Mids scoreless for over 21 minutes into the frame, with Lola Leane finally breaking the streak with a free position goal, 10-8.
Navy opened the fourth quarter with two goals from their top scorers Emily Messinese and Lindsay Beardmore to tie the Dragons at 10. Drake came in clutch in the fourth quarter, quickly scoring to regain the lead. The redshirt senior then made a spectacular play, shooting over the head of the defender to get past the goalie. Drake had four goals on the night, after having five goals previously on the season. Maddie Fowler added another to extend the Dragons lead to 13-10. Navy made a late comeback in the end of the quarter scoring a pair of goals with the second coming with just 00:33 left, the Midshipmen cut the lead down to just one. In the most important draw control of the night, Wall won the battle and sealed the deal for the Dragons, knocking off Navy for the team's second straight top 25 win in as many weeks.