April 30, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Local rivals that have met once each season since 1981 played their second consecutive game against each other on Wednesday night, as No. 4 seed Villanova (5-10) was defeated 11-5 by No. 1 seed Drexel (13-3) in a CAA semifinal game from Vidas Field. The Wildcats were making their fifth playoff appearance in the last seven years but saw their season come to an end as the Dragons advanced to the league championship game for the first time ever.

Two early swings in the game's momentum provided an opportunity for Drexel to jump out to an early lead. The Dragons scored the game's first five goals before Villanova got on the board in the middle of the second quarter. The margin expanded to 7-1 by halftime before both teams settled in and played even in the second half.

In the opening minutes of the contest, a shot by junior Tommy Nolan (Manhasset, N.Y.) was saved with 9:09 left in the first quarter and an attempt by freshman Chris Aitken (Haverford, Pa.) with 7:07 remaining clanged off the post. One minute after Aitken's shot, the Wildcats were whistled for a pushing penalty and Drexel scored the first of its three man-up goals in the first half on Colin Ambler's tally with 5:44 to play in the opening period.

The Dragons added two other goals in the first quarter and scored at the 13:35 mark of the second period to take a 4-0 lead. With 10:43 to play in the quarter a scramble in front of the Drexel goal led to three personal fouls being called. A slashing penalty and a separate pushing penalty were called against the Dragons but Villanova was also hit with a dead ball foul for unnecessary roughness. That call negated a Wildcat possession and two-man-up opportunity, which loomed large when Drexel scored again with 9:25 left in the half for a 5-0 lead.

The five Villanova goals were each scored by different players. Junior Tim Driscoll (Montville, N.J.), who wound up the year with a team-high 26 goals, scored a man-up goal with 6:35 showing to get the Wildcats on the board. Extra-man opportunities played a critical role in the contest, as the Dragons went 3-for-3 in those chances (all in the first half) and Villanova went 4-for-8 (3-for-4 in second half).

Senior Tim Atkins (West Chester, Pa.) registered a goal and two assists in his final collegiate game and freshman Mike Brennan (Manhasset, N.Y.) collected a goal and an assist. Sophomore Paul Webber (Manhasset, N.Y.) and Nolan also scored goals in the game and junior Dan Liva (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) had an assist.

Drexel owned a 39-26 advantage in shots taken, with a 21-12 edge in the pivotal first half. The Dragons also went 18-of-19 on clears while forcing the Wildcats into just 14-of-21 accuracy in clearing attempts. Villanova won 10-of-19 face-offs, picked up 25 ground balls and forced Drexel into 21 turnovers but was unable to create an offensive rhythm of its own.

Colin Ambler had three goals and two assists for the Dragons and Greg Casey chipped in two goals and one assist.

In goal, junior Andrew DiLoreto (Wilton, Conn.) tallied nine saves in the first 56:07 of the game. He yielded to classmate Mike Bogdanor (Clarksville, Md.), who minded the net for the final 3:53 and did not face a shot on goal. Bruce Bickford had seven saves for Drexel.

The playoff appearance for the Wildcats was due reward for the manner in which the team closed out the season. After beginning the year with a 1-7 record, Villanova won four of its next five games to clinch one of four spots in the CAA Championship. The Wildcats ended up going 3-3 overall in the conference regular season standings.