The Triangle

Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: Sports
Originally published: 5/4/07 at 3:11 AM EST
Last update: 5/4/07 at 3:31 AM EST

Media Credit: Pete Croteau Drexel's Dan Layfield attempts to run past Delaware defender Drew Turner in Wednesday night's CAA Semifinal game at Vidas Field. Layfield finished with one goal in Drexel's 11-7 loss to the Blue Hens.

The playoffs are a brand new season. All the records mean nothing, and the games become a battle to see who lives to fight another day. After their spectacular 2007 campaign, the No. 15 ranked Drexel Dragons were faced with a large task against No. 17 Delaware Blue Hens. After falling behind early, the Dragons showed some grit and determination to make a comeback, but they fell short 11-7 in their CAA Semi-final game, May 2 at Vidas Field.

The loss for the Dragons (11-5) seriously jeopardizes their NCAA Tournament hopes. The top 16 teams in the country make the tournament field, and a loss Wednesday against Delaware is damaging to their profile.

The Dragons dug themselves into a 7-2 hole after three quarters, but they sprung to life in the fourth. Greg Casey, Kevin Dart, and Andrew Chapman each scored within a five-minute stretch to pull within two. After the Chapman goal, Delaware's Alex Smith won the ensuing face-off, and he ran the ball into Drexel's end and scored within 15 seconds to answer the Drexel run.

Drexel wasn't finished. Only 90 seconds later, Dan Layfield scored to make it an 8-6 game. However, Delaware took even less time to answer again. Smith won another face-off and assisted Adam Zuder-Havens in a huge goal to give Delaware (10-5) a 9-6 lead, and Drexel would not get any closer.

"We're aggressive because we are trying to get the ball back, and their kid is one of the best face-off kids, if not the best face-off kid in the country," Drexel head coach Chris Bates said. "You just get excited. You have momentum, and they just come back and kill with just one play."

Smith won 13- of -22 face-offs against the Dragons. He leads the nation, winning 74.5 percent of his face-offs. His contributions to the late goals by Delaware killed the Dragons' comeback hopes.

Zuder-Havens was the leading scorer in the game with four goals, and he chipped in an assist. He leads the Blue Hens in goals with 29.

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