Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Towson (CN8)
Bickford Leads No. 10 Drexel Past Towson, 10-9
4/12/2008 8:36:13 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Towson, Md. - Bruce Bickford made 13 saves as Drexel held off a Towson comeback to defeat the Tigers in Maryland, 10-9. It was the first time the tenth-ranked Dragons have beaten Towson since 1998 as the Dragons improved to 10-3 on the season and 3-1 in league play.
L.C. Moerschel, who began play today with three goals on the season, scored twice, including what proved to be the game winner with 1:17 left in the third period. That goal gave Drexel a 10-6 lead. It would also be the team's last goal of the game as Towson scored the last three goals of the game and had the final possession of the contest, but could not get a shot on goal in the closing seconds as the Dragons' defense limited the Tigers to just one shot and forced Towson into a pair of turnovers over the final five minutes to earn the victory.
The Dragons held a 6-3 lead as play started in the third period. Towson scored three of the first four goals of the half to cut the lead to one at 7-6. Towson's Tim Stratton and Drexel's Andrew Chapman exchanged goals before Adam Hagelin and Jonathan Engleke scored to give the Tigers the momentum back midway through the third period. That was short lived, however, as Drexel's Ryan West won the ensuing face-off, picked up the ground ball and fired a shot past Towson goalkeeper Billy Sadtler just four seconds later to make it 8-6. Adam Dennis and Moerschel added goals to give Drexel the four goal lead, but Brian Vetter scored with 37 seconds left in the quarter to make it 10-7 at the end of three. Brian Ganley would score at the 12:23 mark and Engelke would score his third of the day with 5:25 left.
Towson opened the scoring when Engelke scored an unassisted goal at 10:28 of the first. The Drexel defense stiffened and held the Tigers without another goal for more than 20 minutes of action. In the meantime, Drexel scored five straight goals to take a 5-1 lead. The Tigers would not be able to even the score the rest of the way. Chapman had two of his three goals during that stretch. Joe Wojciechowski, Moerschel and Scott Perri also scored during the run. Towson broke the run with two goals but Perri found the net once again, this time with 53 seconds left in the half to make it a three goal lead at the break.
Bickford, who entered the game second in the nation in save percentage, made five saves in the first quarter as Drexel opened a lead and then made a number of key saves in the second half to preserve the win. Drexel's face-off unit, which is ranked in the top 10 nationally, struggled against the Tigers, as Towson won 16 of the 23 draws in the game. Towson also outshot Drexel (29-26) and won the battle of ground balls (32-31), but the Dragons won for just the fourth time in the 38 meetings between the two schools. Drexel's other wins came in 1998, 1964 and 1962. Towson had won the last nine in the series.
Drexel returns home to face Sacred Heart on Saturday in a CAA game. It will be Senior Day at Vidas Field as the Dragons will be honoring their eight players who will be playing in their final regular-season home game.
