Drexel Ladies can’t hold the lead. They drop one in overtime, 13-12. The #10 Drexel Lady Dragons (11-4) took on three-time defending James Madison University (13-2) for the CAA Championship. In an absolute thriller, JMU prevailed in the overtime stanza for the fourth consecutive title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
In-Game Action
A very entertaining first half was started just :42 in when Drexel’s Courtney Dietzel (2g) nailed a goal off a pretty Colleen Grady assist.
Katie Chrckosky (1g,2a) converted a Lizzy Fox set up on the advantage to even the score. Grady (4g,3a) hit net at the 24:20 mark and again at 19:56 giving the Dragons a 3-1 edge. The Dukes answered with a four-goal run furnished by Isabella Peterson (5G) with a natural hat trick. Daria Lucchesi (1g) but Corinne Badnarik (2g,2a) thwarted the uprising to close the half with JMU in front, 5-4.
Things opened wide in the second half with a combined 15 markers. Lucy Schneidereith (3g) kicked things off just a minute forty-nine in to make it 5-5. Peterson hit net twice :45 apart, Forty-five seconds after that it was Badnarik hitting 29th and we were at a 7-6 game. Taylor Marchetti (3g) and Emma Greenhill (1g,1a) pushed the Dukes to a 9-6 advantage.
Drexel took their turn with a run with Lucy Schneidereith adding her 54th and 55th, Badnarik assisting on a Dietzel goal, Grady scoring and Grady assisting on Claire Jarema’s 1st goal, with 4:58 to go, Grady found rope again and the Dragons seemed to have this one firmly in hand, 12-9.
Hold that thought…at 4:21 and 2:07 Marchetti cut it to a one-goal game and with just 1:13 left, Katelyn Morgan (1g,1a) sent it to extra time, Lizzy Fox (1g,1a) ended the carnival at 2:05 and the Dukes captured their fourth consecutive Conference title.
Bet You Didn’t Know
JMU will face #14 John’s Hopkins… Drexel was awarded an “at large bid”. Duke’s netminder, Molly Dougherty had a career-high 16 saves scooping 4 loose balls while being named the “Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament. Emma Johnson and Isabella Peterson were named to the All-Tournament Team. The Dukes held the edge in shots, 37-31 despite being on the short end of Shots on Goal, 28-25. Drexel committed 13 turnovers to 8. JHU grabbed 21 ground balls with Drexel nabbing 10. Drexel Ladies can’t hold the lead.
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.
