Drexel Drops Opener, 16-15

More than one Philadelphia based team lost its season opener on Saturday with the Drexel Dragons following the lead of the Penn Quakers and the Temple Owls.

Drexel met up with the High Point Panthers (1-2) to kick off the 2020 lacrosse season.

A high scoring entertaining contest saw High Point jump out to an early 2-0 lead when Hunter Vines (3g,1a) and a man-up goal from the “Tyler connection”, Tyler Stinson (2a) hitting Tyler Hendricks (2g) with a nice pass and 2:34 into the game the Panthers were prowling.

Nick Fox (1g,1a) countered with a man-up goal of his own before Ben Baker (2g) pushed it to 3-1.

Aidan Coll (2g) cut the lead back to one but, High Point countered with a tally from Asher Nolting (2g,3a), a man up Dalton Sulver (1g,1a) and yet another man-up score from Nick Murphy (1g) to put High Point in front, 6-2.

With 2:17 to play, the Mailman delivered. Colin Mailman picked up his first of four goals on the afternoon and closed the quarter with the home squad in front, 6-3.

It would be almost all Drexel in the second as the Dragons were breathing fire and made a statement with a 5-1 quarter.

Jack Mulcahy (2a) found Matthew Varian (3g,3a) who deposited into the Panthers cage.

Vines countered to get it to 7-4 but, sixteen seconds later, Varian and Coll teamed up again with Coll scoring and jump-starting a five-goal run.

Mailman checked in, Varian scored on the advantage, and Reid Bowering (4g) brought the curtain down on the half with Drexel in a one-goal lead at 8-7.

Mulcahy set up Mailman just :30 in to get it to a two-goal edge.

Hendricks cut it one on yet another man-up tally but, Bowering nailed two more.

It was High Point’s turn to go on a run and Ricky Koehler (1g), Koby Russell (1g) and Ben Baker got the game even, 11-11.

Mailman and Mitchell Snyder (1g) took it to the final 15:00 all knotted at 12-12.

A fourth and back struggle ensued, Varian and Bowering gave the visitors a 14-12 advantage.

High Point was far from finished and seized control off a four-goal run fueled by Vines, Nolting, Devon Buckshot (1g) and the eventual game-winner from Jack Schleppy (1g).

Ryan Genord (1g,1a) at 1:19 got things to a one-goal affair.

Bowering appeared to have the game-tying goal but, the post got in the way.

Dis and Dat: Bowering recorded his 22nd collegiate hat trick and sits at 106 goals.

Ross Blumenthal had 16 saves with 6 coming in the frantic third.

Drexel had the edge in shots, 47-42 while High Point dominated the faceoffs, 22 of 35.

High Point had 10 different players register a goal.

Kevin Neibauer

Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.

Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.

A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.