The Drexel Dragons (3-3) took on the #14 Villanova Wildcats (4-3) in The Philadelphia 4 Classic on Sunday. Drexel who has lost three games by a single goal pulled off an upset at Sweeney Field at St, Joseph’s University with a 15-12 defeat of Villanova.
Senior Reid Bowering stole the spotlight with a 6 goal 7 point output. Drexel netminder, Ross Blumenthal also was a standout with a 14 save performance.
Villanova jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead when Keegan Khan (2g,2a) and Corey McManus (2g) solved Blumenthal. Bowering and seldom-used Casey Waller (2g,1a) answered before Patrick Daly (2g,5a) put the Wildcats back in front at 3-2. Matt Varian set up Bowering on a pretty man-up goal before Daly had an answer. Chris McLallen (1g) followed by Luke Hurley (1g) just twelve seconds later, closed the opening stanza with Drexel in front, 5-3.
Connor Kirst (1g) for Villanova at 13:41 followed at 13:07 by Matt Varian (1g, 4a) exchanged tallies to get it to 6-4. Varian hit Bowering with a dead-on pass for another man-up tally that gave the Dragons a three-goal edge. Khan set up McManus for a Wildcat power-play goal just thirty-two seconds later and the battle was on.
Bowering and Ryan Genord (1g) hit paydirt just twenty-seven ticks apart to boost Drexel to a 9-5 advantage. Villanova put it in another gear and countered, and then some, with two man-advantage goals from Matt Campbell (4g) and a single from Luke Pryblski (1g) to end the half with Villanova trailing by one, 9-8.
The Wildcats registered the only two goals in the third stanza thanks to a man-up score from Campbell and Keegan Khan at even strength.
On the thrilling final 15:00, we would go. It took 1:47 for Bowering to get it even at 10–10 before Campbell and Wade Shervin (1g) for Drexel exchanged goals.
With 7:12 to play, Villanova seized the lead off a Daly tally and the Wildcats looked to clamp down on the Dragons offence. Drexel never got the memo and stormed the castle with Waller, Jack Mulcahy (1g,1a), Aidan Coll (1g) and Bowering putting an exclamation point on the 15-12 upset.
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.
