Spring Break
Men's lacrosse team seeking berth in NCAA Tourney
Shawn Gauby
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Sports
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Yet, no Drexel team sport has made it to one since joining the Colonial Athletic Association back in 2001. However, the Dragons have a team with legitimate NCAA aspirations in men's lacrosse, currently holding the top spot in the conference with a 4-1 mark and can clinch the No. 1 seed in the CAA Tournament with a win over Villanova April 26.
The team has had an outstanding season as their 11-3 mark overall is one win shy of the Drexel record for wins in a season. Beating Villanova would give the Dragons their first CAA regular season lacrosse title in school history.
"It's what we've set out to do," Drexel coach Chris Bates said. "To have the opportunity to do it against Villanova is nice because they are clearly a rival. The best part is we control our destiny."
Senior goalie Bruce Bickford added, "It means a lot for us. We've never earned a regular season CAA title. The game next Saturday, April 26, is our goal first and foremost to get the regular season title. It definitely will help our confidence going into the tournament."
If the Dragons win the CAA Tournament, they receive an automatic bid into the NCAAs, but they are going to have a tough time making the NCAA Tournament if they falter. For the second consecutive year, the Dragons find themselves squarely on the bubble. The Dragons were ranked 15th in the country heading into the CAA Tournament last season and they should be in a very similar spot this year as they are currently ranked 16th.
Drexel played Delaware in the first round last year in what seemed to be an NCAA elimination game. The Blue Hens prevailed 11-7 and the Dragons were one of the last teams kept out of the 16-team NCAA field.
"I think last year's experience is something we all learned from, from top to bottom," Bates said. "We haven't gotten too high or too low this year, and we really want to peak and play our best lacrosse now."
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