University of Albany's Brian Caufield & Corey Small Combine on Seven Goals in Lacrosse's 13-11 Win Against Drexel - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – Brian Caufield had four goals and Corey Small scored three times as UAlbany posted its fourth straight victory in a 13-11 triumph over Drexel on Saturday, March 14 at Vidas Field. The Great Danes upped their record to 4-1 and are off to the program’s second-best start at the Division I level.

Greg Casey scored back-to-back goals 41 seconds apart in the third quarter to give Drexel (2-4) an 8-7 lead. Casey, an All-Colonial Athletic Association midfielder who had a career game with four goals and two assists, put his team ahead in an unsettled situation with 5:01 to play.

The Great Danes regrouped with three unanswered to end the period. Freshman Joe Resetarits tallied consecutive goals, including a drive from behind the cage to score while falling down to regain the lead with 47 seconds left in the quarter. Caufield, who added two assists in the contest, gave his squad a 10-8 lead 30 seconds later on a shot from the top.

UAlbany won the opening face-off of the final stanza and Marc Cometti found the net with a low shot from the left side 51 seconds into the quarter. Joe Pompo extended the margin to 12-8 three minutes later with a blast from the left point. The Dragons sliced that lead in half with extra-man goals by Joe Wojciechowski and leading-scorer Kyle Bergman.

Small, who also handed out two assists, scored from the top of the crease for a 13-10 lead with 6:44 remaining. Drexel’s Colin Ambler found an open net when a clearing pass sailed over the goalkeeper’s head. From there, freshman goalkeeper John Carroll made three saves, including one in a man-down situation to preserve the lead. Carroll turned aside a career-high 17 shots.

“We started slow and grinded it out,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose 2007 team began its season with eleven wins in a row. “We had a tough time clearing the ball, but we played sixty minutes. Joe Resetarits came up with a good individual effort (in the third quarter) and that swung the momentum.”

The Dragons, who won last year’s matchup, 7-6, at John Fallon Field, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening five minutes. UAlbany still trailed 3-2 early in the second quarter, but then ran off three unanswered. Matt Johnson and Small each scored with a man-advantage in that run. Wojciechowski’s second goal of the game tied the contest at five apiece, before Caufield’s extra-man goal put his team ahead at the intermission.

In the third quarter, Kevin Dart’s unassisted tally tied the contest with 12:13 remaining. UAlbany’s Small, who now has 121 career points and has scored at least one point in 22 consecutive games, ripped a shot into the net that glanced off the pipe for a 7-6 advantage. Casey’s consecutive goals made for the third lead change in a game that also featured six ties.

Bergman scored twice for the Dragons, who won last year’s CAA regular-season title and set a single-season record with 13 victories. UAlbany’s Caufield has scored three or more points in 12 of his last 14 starts.

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UAlbany (4-1) 2 4 4 3 - 13

Drexel (2-4) 3 2 3 3 - 11

UAlbany – Scoring: Brian Caufield 4-2, Corey Small 3-2, Joe Resetarits 2-1, Kyle Crotty 1-0, Joe Pompo 1-0, Mark Cometti 1-0, Matt Johnson 1-0; Goalkeeper(s): John Carroll (60:00, 17 saves, 11 GA).

Drexel – Scoring: Greg Casey 4-2, Kyle Bergman 2-0, Joe Wojciechowski 2-0, Kevin Dart 1-0, Colin Ambler 1-0, Dennis Murray 1-0, Scott Perri 0-3, Kevin Stockel 0-1, Andrew Collins 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Mark Manos (59:20, 7 saves, 12 GA), Andy Lamb (0:27, 0 saves, 1 GA), Danny Fessel (0:13, 0 saves, 0 GA).