Drexel Tops UD for Final CAA Playoff Spot
from press release
PHILADELPHIA – Drexel scored three goals
in a span of 1:17 late in the fourth quarter to turn a one-goal
deficit into a two-goal lead and defeated Delaware, 10-8. With the
victory the Dragons earned the final spot in the upcoming CAA
Tournament. The Dragons (7-7, 3-3 CAA), the #3 seed in the
tournament, will play at Towson on Wednesday night.
Delaware’s (5-10, 2-4 CAA) Mark Steverson put the Blue Hens
ahead for the first time since Steverson opened the game’s
scoring. With just over nine minute remaining in the fourth
quarter, Steverson made a nice move to give the Hens the lead at
7-6. The teams had been tied on six previous occasions. Drexel
answered at the 6:25 mark when junior Adam Dennis put home a pass
from Brian Neary to tie it up. The Dragons took the lead for good
just 61 seconds later when Greg Casey fired a shot up high past
Delaware’s Noah Fossner. Nick Kusturiss won the ensuing
face-off and senior Kevin Dart scored what proved to be the
game-winning goal at the 5:08 mark. Delaware was not done as Curtis
Dickson, the second-leading scorer in the CAA, set up Kevin
Kaminski to make it 9-8 with just under four minutes to play. The
Hens had a shot blocked in the final two minutes but it was blocked
and Drexel gained possession. Delaware tried to pressure the
Dragons but senior Brian Neary, in his final home game, fired a
shot into the empty net with 39 seconds left to clinch the victory
for the Dragons.
The first half was tightly contested with Drexel holding on to a
slim one-goal lead at intermission. The Dragons scored three
extra-man goals in the first half, including one by Colin Ambler
with 2:21 to play in the half to make in a 5-4 game.
Delaware entered the game third in the nation in face-off
percentage, but the Dragons won 12 of the 21 draws. Ryan West won
five of his eight draws, while Kusturiss was 3-for-5 and had two
key wins as the Dragons took the lead in the fourth quarter.
Ambler led the Dragons with two goals and two assists. Casey and
Dennis also had a pair of goals. Mark Manos was again stellar in
the cage. The freshman of the year candidate made 11 saves, his
eighth straight game with at least 10 stops.
Kaminski, Dickson and Steverson each had two goals for the Blue
Hens. Dickson also had a pair of assists. Fossner picked up eight
saves in a losing effort.
