The Triangle

Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Sports

Who knew the men's lacrosse team was going to have to overcome a five-goal deficit and have its goalie make possibly the best save of his career just to have a chance against No. 13 Hofstra?
Despite trailing 7-2 in the second half, the No. 11 Dragons stormed back to win a 9-8 thriller over the Hofstra Pride in double overtime March 29 at Vidas Field.
Andrew Chapman led Drexel (8-2, 1-0) with four goals, including the game winner off of his patented spin move with 2:41 remaining in double overtime.
"It all happened so fast," Chapman said. "Luckily, we had the shot that went in. It could've gone either way in overtime, but it's a great comeback for us. [The Pride] played their hearts out too."
Jon Van Houten added two goals and Colin Ambler had a goal and an assist.
The game should not have reached double overtime, but Drexel goalie Bruce Bickford made perhaps the biggest play of Drexel's young season.
After both teams were fighting for a loose ball, Hofstra's Dan Stein scooped up the ball, broke away from all Drexel defenders and was right in front of the net. But Bickford made a sensational save with 1:08 left in the first overtime session.
"I just tried to stay as patient as possible and not get too jumpy," Bickford said. "As soon as I saw where [Stein] was going, I exploded to take the goal away."
Bates said he thought the game was over once Stein had the one-on-one opportunity.
"I was almost packing my bags, figuring the game was over as [Stein] was all alone in front of [Bickford]. It was just sick," men's lacrosse coach Chris Bates said. "I can't describe it because I can't do it. It was unbelievable. Bruce [Bickford] gave the senior speech last night we traditionally have. I love him. For the way for him to play this way after giving the talk to the team is fitting."
Drexel led 2-0 early after Van Houten scored less than two minutes into the game, but Hofstra scored seven straight goals. At halftime, Drexel trailed 7-2, but the team knew this game was far from being over.
"I just can't get down on myself," Bickford said. "All season, you can't put your head down because you're going to get more shots."
Bates felt Drexel was playing well, but things just weren't falling for his team.
"At halftime, we just looked around and said we're playing pretty well and we are putting in a good effort," Bates said. "We felt that we didn't need to change much."
Ambler scored the Dragons first goal just seven seconds into the game and started the half the exact same way when Chapman score a goal with 14:53 remaining in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 7-3.
That was one of six consecutive goals that Drexel scored as it eventually took an 8-7 lead on another Chapman goal.
"It means a lot for the CAA playoffs, especially since we want to play here as opposed to Hofstra, which is a pretty hostile environment," Chapman said. "We want to win the regular season and host a game in the CAA Tournament."
After losing the first 18 games in the Hofstra-Drexel rivalry, the Dragons have now won two straight games by a combined total of two goals.
Drexel outshot Hofstra 38-30 and had 27 ground balls to the Pride's 15, but the largest difference came in the faceoff region. The Dragons won 18-of-22 including both faceoffs in overtime.
"I'm not sure the win was as important as playing well," Bates said. "This is not the time of year we want to peak. We want to peak at the end of the season. I said to them before the game, 'Talk is cheap, but I have a lot of faith in you guys.'"

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