Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/5/17
From Press Release
The Drexel women’s lacrosse team opened its season on Sunday afternoon and threw a scare into a top-10 program, but the Dragons’ upset bid ultimately fell short as the host No. 10 Duke Blue Devils came from behind for a 9-7 victory. Drexel held a one-goal lead at halftime, but the Dragons were stymied in the second half as Duke outscored them 4-1 in the final 30 minutes.
Nadia Pelham-Lacey scored a pair of first-half goals for her first two points of 2017. Alex Beilman also put together a multi-point effort with a goal and an assist. Maggie Stetson (Conestoga), Devin Nihill, Lauren Gerrie and newcomer Courtney Dietzel (Central Bucks South) rounded out the scoring for the Dragons.
Dietzel added three caused turnovers as Drexel held the Duke offense largely in check. Senior goalkeeper Carlee Ries made eight saves in her season debut. Eva Winiarski (Downingtown West) and Lisa Rogers each had two caused turnovers as well, while Rogers added a pair of draw controls. Molly Savage (Garnet Valley) and Ries each had four ground balls to pace the team, while Dominique Nyzio (Mount St. Joseph) and Winiarski added three apiece. Rachel Warden (Garnet Valley) chipped in a pair of ground balls and a caused turnover in her collegiate debut.
Drexel opened the 2017 season by scoring first, going to one of its most potent weapons from last season. Pelham-Lacey scored an unassisted goal just 2:38 into the contest to put the Dragons on top, and after the Blue Devils responded with the first of two Olivia Jenner goals, Dietzel found the back of the net to put Drexel back in front with 21:38 remaining in the opening half.
Duke briefly took a 3-2 lead midway through the period, but the Dragons responded by rattling off four straight. First, it was last year’s leading scorer Nihill knotting things up with 14:44 to play. Less than a minute later, Beilman put Drexel ahead. Pelham-Lacey scored her second with 12:19 to play, and Gerrie made it a 6-3 Drexel advantage off a feed from Beilman with 8:37 remaining.
Duke would retaliate with a pair of goals before halftime to send the game into the intermission with Drexel leading 6-5. After the break, the Blue Devils wasted little time getting things back even. Jenner’s second goal tied things up just 21 seconds into the action, and Kyra Harney put Duke ahead with her second goal of the afternoon five minutes later.
Stetson briefly brought the Dragons back tied with 12:42 to play, but that would ultimately prove to be the Dragons’ final goal as Duke’s defense shut them down the rest of the way. Ellie Majure scored the eventual game-winner for Duke and Jessie Ambrose added an insurance goal to provide the final score as both teams came up empty over the final 9:50 of play.
Drexel will now spend two weeks on the practice fields after their opening effort. The Dragons will next be in action on Feb. 19 when they host Columbia at Vidas Field. That game is set to begin at noon.