Dragons Down Monmouth in CAA Opener, 13-10

Saturday, March 15

Philadelphia, Pa.

12 p.m.

Drexel University

4-4

Monmouth University

3-5

MON

Drexel

Photo by: Sideline Photos

3/15/2025 3:07:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Aidan Shortley Has a Career-Day, Winning 21 Face-Offs

PHILADELPHIA - Drexel's Aidan Shortley won 21 face-offs and Conor Hooley had six points as the Dragons opened CAA play with a 13-10 win against Monmouth at Vidas Field. Max Semple also had a big day with four goals and Brendan Donnelly made 14 saves in the win for DU.

The game was tied five different times in the opening two quarters before Drexel (4-4) took the lead for good late in the second. Hooley came from behind the net and fired a shot past the Monmouth (3-5) keeper making it 6-5 with 2:11 to play until halftime. On the ensuing face-off, Shortley won the draw clean and went right to the cage and gave the Dragons their second score in a span of just seven seconds as the Dragons took a 7-5 lead to the locker room.

Early in the third period, Drexel increased the lead to 8-5 when Semple rifled a shot home for his third score of the day. Monmouth cut the Drexel lead to two on three occasions, but the Hawks were unable to make it a one-possession game the rest of the way. Hooley had two of his three goals in the second half. Shortley added another, while Ted Luthy and Semple closed out the scoring.

The opening quarter moved quickly as the team's struggled to score. Monmouth broke the drought 10 minutes into the game on a Connor Gorman goal. Drexel answered three minutes later when Witt Crawford found Jack Joyner to even it up. The Hawks then took their final lead of the game when Ty Caffarelli went behind his back into the top corner just before the horn sounded to end the first quarter at 2-1. It was the first of two goals the Hawks would score in the final second, as Brendan Dudas beat the horn in the third.

Shortley, who finished the day 21-for-25, finished with the third highest single-game save percentage for a Dragon since the school joined the CAA prior to the 2002 season (20 or more attempts). His 17 ground balls were the most for a Drexel player since Jimmeh Koita had 18 against Towson in the CAA Tournament back in 2019. It was also his first two-goal game and he had an assist as well.

Brendan Donnelly made his first start in goal for the Dragons and made 14 saves, including a few from right in front of the cage. Hooley tied his career-high with six points. It is the fourth time he has had six and the second time this season. Semple scored four goals as he recorded his 19^th career hat trick.

The Dragons return to conference play next week at Fairfield. The Stags are undefeated in the early going and are ranked 16^th in the nation.