Drexel Knocks Lafayette from Unbeaten Ranks
from press release
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Steve Serling scored four goals, but it was not enough for No. 8 Lafayette, which overcame a four-goal deficit but fell to No. 11 Drexel in overtime. © Kevin P. Tucker |
EASTON, Pa. -- Adam Dennis scored the
game-winning goal with just 15 seconds to play as No. 11 Drexel
held off No. 8 Lafayette, 12-11, in Easton Pa. The Dragons (7-2)
recorded their second win against a top 10 team this year and
handed the Leopards (6-1) their first loss of the season.
Drexel led by four at 11-7 entering the final 15 minutes, but the
Leopards’ potent offense started to heat up. Steve Serling
scored three straight goals, one in the early stages of the
quarter, one halfway through the period and the last which tied the
game at the 3:02 mark. Two minutes later, the Dragons forced a
turnover, but gave it right back as Colin Serling picked off a pass
and dodged his way in front of the net and tied the game at 11-11.
On the ensuing face-off, Drexel’s Ryan West won the draw and
the Dragons called time to set up their offense. The Dragons
maintained possession, worked the ball around and came away with
the win when Dennis banked one off the pipe and into the cage for
his third goal of the game.
Drexel scored two goals in the final two minutes of the first
quarter to take a 5-3 lead after one quarter. The lead increased to
6-3 just six seconds into the second quarter as the Dragons won the
face-off clean and Kevin Stockel ripped a shot into the
Leopards’ cage. The score stayed the same for the next eight
minutes, before Lafayette’s offense got going. The momentum
swung towards the home team when the Leopards scored three times in
the span of just over four minutes to tie the score at 6-6.
However, the Dragons made two big plays to take the lead back
before intermission. With 1:37 to play Scott Perri set up Colin
Ambler’s 12th goal of the season. Drexel got the ball back
again and Perri scored an unassisted goal with just four ticks left
on the clock to give the Dragons an 8-6 lead at the break.
Drexel kept the pressure on and played a solid third quarter,
increasing its lead to 11-7. The Dragons scored three of the four
goals in the period. Dennis, Scott Perri and Robert Church were
Drexel’s goal scorers.
Mark Manos picked up his seventh win of the season, recording 15
saves in the process. Church, Stockel and Perri each recorded a
pair of goals to go along with Dennis’ hat trick. Perri also
had a pair of assists and now has 30 points on the season. Ryan
West won 12 of his 22 face-off attempts and had a team-best eight
ground balls.
Lafayette entered the game as one of three unbeaten Division I
men’s lacrosse teams (North Carolina and Virginia are the
others). The Leopards had four goals from both Colin and Steve
Serling. Vinny DePasquale picked up 11 saves.
Drexel returns home after ending its three-game road stretch. The
Dragons open play in the Colonial Athletic Association on Saturday
afternoon against Hofstra. The Pride, ranked sixth in the latest
USILA Poll, was the preseason favorite to win the CAA. The game
begins at 4 p.m. and can be seen live on The Comcast Network.
