The Triangle

Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Dave Hernandez

Last year in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship Final, the men's lacrosse team led by two goals with just 78 seconds left in the contest. But the Dragons gave up two goals in the final moments of regulation before losing in overtime and falling just short of a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

This year, however, the Dragons are back with a vengeance and may have enough confidence to propel them to a CAA Championship, but even more importantly, an NCAA Tournament berth.

"Our main goals are to be playing our best lacrosse in April and May and peak at the right time and get a conference and NCAA berth," Drexel head coach Chris Bates said.

Drexel's schedule won't be easy, but if the Dragons can beat Virginia Feb. 14 and three other teams, they may be looking at a possible at-large bid, if they do not win the CAA Championship. The Dragons play five teams ranked in the preseason top 20 according to Inside Lacrosse.

The Dragons start out the season against the No. 1 ranked Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Va. Other road tests Drexel will face this season include matches against St. Johns, Saint Joseph's, No. 16 Denver, Robert Morris, No. 15 Hofstra and Sacred Hart.

The men's team will host Penn, Binghamton, No. 12 Albany and Lafayette in out-of-conference play and Towson, Villanova and No. 20 Delaware in the CAA.

After graduating Bruce Bickford, Steve Grossi and Andrew Chapman, members of the USILA North/South Senior All-Star Game last season, the men's lacrosse team is in dire need of replacements - especially at the goalie position.

Bickford was an All-American goalie last year and was fifth in the nation in save percentage (.629) and ninth in goals against average (6.99). He also led the conference in both of those categories.

"None of our guys are Bruce Bickford," Bates said. "We need to play better defense because we don't expect as many saves. Not to disrespect our guys, but that's how good Bruce was."

Colin Ambler, Greg Casey, Matt McCormick and Ryan West, members of the Colonial Athletic Association's Preseason All-Conference team, hope to fill that void and make it easier on freshman Mark Manos, who is expected to start at goalie in the first game of the season.

Ambler, a junior attackman, led the team with 21 goals and 21 assists last season. He was a Second Team All-CAA selection in 2008 and was also named the CAA Rookie of the Year as a freshman.

Continued...

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