Box Score March 26, 2016 Final Stats
DAVIS, Calif. - Freshman midfielder Taylor Cuenin posted a goal and an assist while Aggie sophomore Lauren Ali tallied eight saves but visiting Drexel broke away from a defensive battle in the last six minutes to dispatch UC Davis, 8-3, in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Aggie Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Aggies even their record to 3-3 overall. The Dragons move to 7-2 for the year.
Freshman Shannon Cross and Sam Axenroth also netted goals for UC Davis, although it was the Aggies' defensive effort that characterized the majority of the contest. Drexel held just a 4-3 lead until senior Emily Duffey's hat-trick goal sparked a run of four unanswered down the final stretch.
Ali tallied six of her eight stops in the first half to help cool the Dragons to just a 3-2 edge at the break. Senior defender Morgan Sissler posted steals in the ninth and 24th minutes to help keep DU in check. Overall, the defensive corps of Sissler, Tess Kevorkian and Pauline Kaplan limited the Dragons to just six shots in the first 24 minutes of the game. Midfielder Mary Doyle also tallied a caused turnover and a pair of ground balls in the defensive third.
Offensively, UC Davis struggled to 3-for-15 shooting in the contest, including 0-for-5 from the eight-meter arc. The Aggies also suffered key turnovers on their attacking end in the final minutes. An errant pass lead to a quick transition and Duffey's goal in the 55th, putting the Dragons up by a 5-3 margin. The Aggies won the next draw but Drexel midfielder Eva Winiarski quickly responded with a stick-check steal to end that possession. Junior Lauren Gerrie converted an eight-meter on the other end to extend the DU lead to three with 4:19 remaining.
Winiarski won the next draw, and the Dragons held possession until sophomore Nadia Pelham-Lacey delivered her team's seventh goal in the 57th minute. UC Davis sophomore Shannon Geary notched her third draw control on the next restart but again, Drexel's defense stepped up to frustrate any Aggie offensive chance: sophomore defender Molly Savage leaped up for an interception with 1:36 remaining. A quick transition to attack eventually led to Devin Nihill's unassisted drive in the final minute to effectively seal the game.
Cuenin and senior Ellie Delich finished with three ground balls apiece. Savannah Hadley also provided strong defensive support and had a steal and ground ball to show for it.
For Drexel, Duffey's three goals and assist led all players while Pelham-Lacey totaled two goals and a dime. Winiarski compiled three steals, three draw controls and four ground balls, all in the second half.
UC Davis continues action on Friday with a 4 p.m. Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game against Colorado, the fourth of a six-date homestand.
| Drexel (7-2) | 3 | 5 | - | 8 |
| UC Davis (3-3) | 2 | 1 | - | 3 |
GOALS - DU: Emily Duffey 3, Nadia Pelham-Lacey 2, Devin Nihill 2, Lauren Gerrie 1. UC DAVIS: Taylor Cuenin 1, Shannon Cross 1, Sam Axenroth 1.
ASSISTS - DU: Emily Duffey 1, Nadia Pelham-Lacey 1. UC DAVIS: Taylor Cuenin 1, Courtney Neff 1.
GOALIE SAVES - DU: Carlee Ries 6 (60:00). UC DAVIS: Lauren Ali 8 (60:00).
