Siena Women's Lacrosse could not have asked for a better start against #24/#25 Drexel on a Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.
Siena (1-5) started fast, taking a 4-0 early advantage in the opening 10 minutes, getting two goals from
Grace Dobrzynski and one apiece from
Koehler Nieman and
Olivia Nicholson on the scoreboard.
It didn't last as Drexel answered back with a 6-1 second quarter to take a 7-5 into the halftime break and got backed by a career performance from Allison Drake, who finished with seven goals, as the Saints dropped a 16-9 decision to the Dragons.
Drake's scoring prowess got Drexel back into the game and kept them going whenever they needed her to come through. Drake scored three consecutive goals – from 4:26 left in the first quarter until 13:07 left in the second quarter—to get within one of the led.
After Siena's
Sydney Hannes scored to push the margin back to two, it was Drake, who cut it back down to one once again with a goal at the 9:54 mark of the second quarter.
Siena senior transfer
Samantha Spieler gave the Saints some hope by scoring twice during a two minute and 11 second span to cut the lead down to 11-7 with 4:08 left in the third quarter.
The latter of the second opportunity came on a woman-up advantage that Siena made good on.
With the Saints threatening to come closer, Drake put away goals at 3:15 and then again at the 8:48 mark of the fourth quarter to provide a cushion for the Dragons (5-2).
Nicholson completed her second hat trick in as many games in a penalty up situation on a feed from
Jenna Pollicino to make it 15-9 with 6:03 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Drake finished with her seventh strike of the day at 3:59, also on a woman-up opportunity.
Drexel held a 35-21 shots advantage, but only 20-19 for shots on goal. Draw controls, which were a strength last game for the Saints at a plus nine advantage, were minus 12 on Saturday.
Siena will be back in action this Wednesday when it travels to Syracuse to take on Le Moyne (1-5) at 3 p.m. on Ted Grant Field.
