The Drexel University women’s lacrosse team began their Colonial Athletic Association conference play against No. 10 Towson University and No. 4 James Madison University April 6 and 8. Two disappointing losses place the Dragons 3-9 on the season and 0-2 in the CAA as they try to make a bid for the CAA Championships May 4 and 6.
Towson dominated the first half of the game scoring two goals within the first minute of play. Junior Cassidy Delaney scored the first goal for the Dragons with 27:32 until halftime with an assist from sophomore Lucy Schneidereith. This was Delaney’s 13th goal for the season.
A 4-0 scoring run from Towson over the next 13 minutes held the Dragons down 6-1 until Lucy Schneidereith scored her 20th goal of the season with 14:58 until the half.
The Dragons drew control of the ball again and scored another clean shot into the net by senior Alex Beilman for her seventh goal of the season with an assist from junior Maggie Stetson. This would be the Dragons’ last goal of the first half as Towson would increase their lead with a 6-0 scoring run to end the half 12-3.
With a dominant Towson lead, the Dragons knew that it was going to be a fight to try to come back.
After sophomore Courtney Dietzel drew control of the ball at the start of the second half, standout freshman Colleen Grady shot her 26th goal of the season just 1:22 into play.
Another 4-0 run from Towson saw any chance of the Dragons coming back by the end of play slip away. With 17 minutes left on the clock, Grady scored unassisted, but the Dragons were still trailing 16-5.
Towson was able to close out the game with a win 20-5 after four more goals. Towson was more dominant in the first half with 16 shots on goal of a total 19 shots taken. The Dragons turned the ball over 13 times in the first half but were able to clean up their play with only five turnovers in the second half to Towson’s six.
It was an unfortunate beginning to the Dragons’ CAA play against one of the top teams in the nation, but the Dragons moved on to their next game against James Madison.
James Madison held the Dragons scoreless in the first half and made 10 goals of their own. The Dragons had 14 turnovers and 20 fouls in the first half awarding James Madison with eight free position shots which they converted to five goals.
At the start of the second half, James Madison increased the score to 12-0 until a foul was called and a free position attempt given to Drexel.
Delaney converted the free position shot to the Dragons’ first goal of the game with 17:49 to play. She came back again a little over two minutes later with another goal unassisted to bring the score to 12-2. Towson capped off the game finishing 15-2.
The Dragons have four games remaining in their season until the CAA Championships. After a full week of training, they will travel to Hempstead, New York, to play Hofstra University April 15. Last season, the Dragons defeated Hofstra in a close game 12-11 at home.
The women’s lacrosse team will not return to Vidas Field until April 20 when they host the College of William & Mary.