After a disappointing loss in their home opener against UMBC, Drexel men’s lacrosse looked to recapture their home field advantage against the Lafayette Leopards. After strong home wins against Air Force and Binghamton to open the year, the Leopards proved to be a worthy foe for the Dragons. 

Over the program’s history, Drexel has held a firm advantage in their series against Lafayette, winning 47 contests, while only losing 18. Last season, when the Dragons faced the Leopards on the road, it was Lafayette who escaped with an 8-7 win.

It was a frosty Tuesday evening at Vidas field, with a reported temperature of 35 degrees at face-off. To open the contest, Drexel’s defense made a strong effort, preventing holes which would allow Lafayette open looks. After retaking possession early in the quarter, the Dragons did not let up, remaining in control of the ball for a majority of the first 15 minutes. After a penalty was drawn by sophomore attacker Caden Zadell, and now with a man up, Drexel had its first opportunity to break the tie. With under 11 minutes to play, a perfect pass from Gavin Kelly lined up Conor Hooley for an easy first goal.

Following the goal, Drexel again won the face off, and following an unsuccessful bounce shot, the Dragons retook possession again. This would continue for nearly the entirety of the first eight minutes, with shot after shot being taken on Lafayette goalie Joe Doherty. With eight minutes to play, Zadell found himself in one-on-one coverage, where he swiftly got past a Leopards defender to score an impressive goal, giving the Dragons a two to zero edge.

Quickly following the goal, the Dragons again aggressively retook the ball, executing almost every ground ball perfectly. The first substantial Lafayette offensive possession was abruptly concluded, when junior defender Jack Nolan took advantage of the ten man ride and scored a goal from midfield on an empty net, leaving the Dragons ahead three.

Later, when Lafayette found themselves in another rare offensive situation, Drexel’s goalie Drew McGill got a key stop, which was quickly followed by sophomore defenseman Pat Lyman ripping the ball from the Leopards, right next to a Dragons bench loving every second of it. 

In the first quarter, the Dragons took 16 shots in comparison to the Leopards four, and to open the second quarter it was no different. Conor Hooley’s footwork allowed him to put pressure on Lafayette’s defense, allowing him to assist Alec Tulio for Drexel’s fourth goal. From there on, the momentum shifted dramatically, with the Leopards seemingly seizing control of the game. 

For the next 20 minutes, the Leopards clawed back, finding cracks in the Dragons defense, and allowing them to tie the game at four by halftime, and hold a nine to five advantage by the end of the third quarter. Freshmen Nicholas Blalock and Joseph Duggan each added two goals, with five other Lafayette players scoring through three periods. 

Under the lights, and down four goals with fifteen minutes standing between the Dragons and an 0-2 start, attacker Witt Crawford found an unlikely assist from the goalie McGill, breaking the scoreless stretch. Crawford’s fist pumped in the air was a sign of good things to come, as after a quick Lafayette goal, it was again Crawford who scored. 

Crawford’s second goal would reignite Drexel’s relentless play on both sides of the ball, allowing the Dragons to score five additional unanswered goals, and win the game 12-10 . With just over eleven to play Conor Hooley added his third goal of the night completing the hat trick. A minute later, it was Hooley’s fellow captain, Liam Kammar who scored again, which brought the Lafayette lead to one.

Not finished yet, sophomore Caden Zadell joined Hooley’s hat trick, by adding his second and third goal of the game, the final of which was assisted by the aforementioned Hooley. Hooley, a Minnesota native, led the team with 17 assists last season, and again leads the Dragons with four through the program’s first two games. Zadell played a much smaller role in the Dragons offense last season scoring only four goals, a number he was one short of matching on Tuesday night.

With under two minutes to play, an unsatisfied Leopards team tried to claw back, attempting a shot on McGill, who blocked it, picking up his fourth save. After passing it out to Kammar, the captain immediately dished the ball to Lyman who hurled a hail mary shot across Vidas, and directly into an open net. Again, the Drexel bench erupted in cheers, this time for the sophomore’s first career goal.

Lyman was recognized alongside Gavin Kelly on the CAA All-Rookie team for his immediate impact last season. From the first face-off to his game clinching goal, Lyman proved to be a major problem for the Leopards on both sides of the ball. In the second quarter of the broadcast, former ACC Player of the Year, Marcus Holman labeled Lyman as the best player on the field, as his efforts highlighted the Dragons relentless effort.

Joining the rowdy Drexel bench in celebration was newly hired head coach, Steve Boyle, whose leadership on Wednesday led to his first win at Drexel. Without the expertise of longtime head coach Brian Voelker to support the program, it will be fascinating to monitor how a trio of former John Hopkins standouts, in Boyle, Tucker Durkin, and Joel Tinney can lead the program into the future.

Although an improbable comeback was required for the win, Drexel showcased the true potential of their squad. The Dragons are a team that has a strong mix of veteran upper classmen who serve as the backbone of the program, and a young core of talent that’s sure to cause chaos come conference play.

Following the victory, the Dragons will head on the road to face the University of Albany Great Danes in upstate New York. It’s crucial Drexel stays hot on the road, as this year’s CAA landscape projects to be brutal, with Delaware, Towson, Fairfield, and Stony Brook all receiving votes for the Inside Lacrosse Top 20.

Women’s Lacrosse Goalie, Jenika Cuocco, set the NCAA on fire last season, leading the nation in saves and save percentage, and was named a second-team All-American. 

Cuocco grew up in Sound Beach, New York, a smaller town on Long Island, an area of the country well-known for producing top-tier lacrosse talent. Although she did not want to stay on the Island, Jenika needed to attend a school close enough to home for her mom to make it to the games. Therefore, when Drexel showed interest in the goalie, and following the completion of a successful visit, Cuocco claimed it was a “no brainer” to become a Dragon. 

After deciding to red-shirt for her freshman season, Cuocco lit up all competition as a rookie, helping the Dragons to a 5-2 record against CAA competition, a huge 16-11 victory over top program John Hopkins, and an NCAA tournament berth. Cuocco was recognized for her immediate impact winning CAA Rookie and CAA Goalie of the Year. 

Entering the 2024 season, expectations were as high as ever for the Dragons, but Cuocco’s performance again elevated Drexel beyond all predictions. The sophomore led the entire nation in saves, with 224, and save percentage, with 56.9 percent, while winning her second straight conference Goalie of the Year title .

The goalie credits her environment to her personal growth.

 “Our team environment creates such an underdog mentality, and I don’t think it matters if you’re a rookie, or entering your second, third, or fourth year, you have the same goals. It’s about working for the teammate next to you.” 

Early in the season, the team notched consecutive huge wins over top-25 ranked programs including a 10-8 victory over Penn State at Vidas, and a 13-12 win against Navy in Annapolis. Despite a near-perfect conference slate, which saw the Dragons finish 7-1, the team fell to the arch-rival Stony Brook Seawolves in the CAA Championship, before losing to Princeton in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

With the graduation of key starters Corinne Bednarik, Alex Wall and Belle McHugh, among others, many in Cuocco’s position may have entered the transfer portal to seek out a program playing in a more premiere conference, that receives more exposure than a mid-major school like Drexel. Although she briefly tested the portal, Cuocco re-emphasized the importance of her team in her decision to stay. 

“It’s not very common to find a place that has created a culture like Drexel has. We’re a bunch of 32 sisters.”

Cuocco, an early education major, completed her co-op at the local Headstart Program, and now is student teaching at the Powell School. The new captain mentioned certain leadership tactics she utilized in the classroom translated to the practice fields at Vidas. 

“What’s grown for me the most is my patience. Three to five-year-olds test that a lot.” Aside from increased patience, seeing problems through the eyes of a child has helped Jenika grow a connection with her teammates. 

The Dragons ranked 24th in the Inside Lacrosse preseason poll, before opening the season with a heartbreaking double overtime road loss to UConn, 9-10. However, on Wednesday, Drexel recaptured last year’s momentum, annihilating Wagner, again on the road, 16-3. The Dragons battle #12 UPenn in a battle of Market Street home opener this Sunday, with Drexel looking to flip the script and escape with a victory, after falling to the Quakers last season.

Lacrosse TV will broadcast Sunday’s match, making it the first time the women’s lacrosse team has been broadcast on the network.

“I think it’s about time,” said Cuocco on Drexel receiving more national recognition. “Year after year we continue to prove why we should be a top program, and a lot of the times we’re looked past or slept on by other teams. I think that’s okay, because it drives us to be better.”

After opening 1-1, the Dragons hope to notch a win in their first home game, with their sights set on once again winning the CAA championship, and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season.

Valentine’s Day is all about love for someone special in your life. For Philadelphia, more than a million people gathered along Broad Street and in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum to celebrate something special to them: The Philadelphia Eagles second Super Bowl parade.    

Long before the start of the Super Bowl parade, Philadelphia’s streets were flooded with people proudly wearing their green Eagles merchandise. People were dancing, playing football, or tailgating. The smell of hot dogs, beer, and cigarettes was accompanied by loud music that echoed through the city. 

The flags that line Benjamin Franklin Parkway in front of the Art Museum were replaced with Vince Lombardi Eagles flags. Several huge TV screens showed the replay of the Eagles’ legendary Super Bowl LIX win to entertain the crowd as they waited.  

Every spot close to the streets was taken. Some fans even climbed on top of trees to have a better view of their Eagles superstars.   

At around 11 a.m. the parade kicked off at South Philadelphia’s NRG Sports Complex. Several buses carried the Eagles players, and coaching staff over Broad Street and Center City to the Art Museum.  

The biggest crowd gathered at the legendary Rocky Steps. It was the exact same spot where Jason Kelce held his legendary Super Bowl speech seven years ago.   

Instead of a colorfully dressed Jason Kelce, however, it was Jalen Hurts’ and Saquon Barkley’s turn to deliver their speeches.  

Hurts took the stage in style, like always. The 26-year-old Super Bowl MVP wore a beret, a black hoodie and smoked a cigar.   

The Eagles quarterback thanked the fans, his coach, his teammates and the Eagles’s phenomenal defense. “You know, I told myself when I got drafted that I wouldn’t come to the Rocky Steps until I won a championship, and now we are here,” Hurts said. His speech ended in loud MVP, and Eagles chants.  

However, during the speeches, a shooting took place near City Hall. A 27-year-old and a 20-year-old woman were shot in the calf and thigh. The shooter has been identified as 28-year-old Brandon Ramos. He is currently in custody according to CBS News. The victims are in stable condition.   

While navigating the crowds and the chaos surrounding the parade was a difficult task for Philadelphians and those who traveled here to celebrate the Eagles, it was still a day to remember.

On Feb. 8, Drexel women’s lacrosse began their highly anticipated 2025 campaign. Steadily, the women’s lacrosse program has been growing in notoriety and prestige, and their success has culminated in, finally, some national recognition, as Drexel was ranked the preseason #24 in the nation. 

In their first game, the Dragons went to Storrs, CT where they had quite the opening test against the University of Connecticut Huskies. UConn, who was not ranked at the time, is a perennial contender in the Big East. The entire contest was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team ever accumulating larger than a two-goal lead. For the Dragons, Allison Drake and Bridget Finley each got a hat trick, but ultimately they fell to the Huskies 10-9 in overtime. 

This game was a test of how Drexel would find success offensively, without Corinne Bednarik, who was a major part of all facets of Drexel’s offense last season. While Drexel was able to contend offensively still, it was going to be difficult for Drexel to find their new offensive footing against an opponent like UConn. 

Drexel did find their offensive footing in their next game, however, as they traveled to Staten Island to take on Wagner. Drexel erupted for eight goals in the first quarter of the game, and eventually went on to win in dominant fashion, 16-3. The Dragons truly found themselves offensively as Drake (4), Bea Buckley (3), Anna Maria Gragnani (3) and Bridget Finley (2) all scored multiple goals. In total, eight Dragons contributed a goal. 

Up Next:

Drexel will host #12 Penn on Feb. 16 at Vidas Field. The game begins at noon, and will be televised on LacrosseTV. The Dragons then travel to Maryland where they will compete against Harvard on Feb. 21 in a neutral site faceoff at the USA Lacrosse Headquarters. The game will begin at 7 p.m. and can be watched on GoLiveSports.

With winter sports seasons wrapping up, and the spring seasons right around the corner, we at the Triangle will once again highlight our Triangle Athlete of the Week, Jason “Deuce” Drake.

Jason Drake, more commonly known as “Deuce,” transferred to Drexel this past spring after spending his freshman season at Cleveland State, and his sophomore year at Junior College Butler Community College. He showcased his shooting and scoring ability with the Grizzlies, notching 42% from beyond the arc and scoring double figures in 15 of 31 contests.

Drake struggled slightly out of the gate, averaging under eight points per game, and shooting a pedestrian 40% from the field through his first 10 games with the Dragons. Although slightly heating up in conference play, Drake still lacked a set role on the team, seeing his playing time fluctuate greatly game to game.

Following a double overtime loss at Monmouth, and a one point loss to Towson in Maryland, the Dragons were in dire need of a statement win taking on the William & Mary Tribe at the DAC. The junior guard played average for the first half, shooting three of eight for six points, four rebounds, and four assists. 

The second half was a struggle for the Dragons, who allowed the Tribe to go on a 9-2 run for the first four minutes, bringing the score to 41-39 Drexel. It was Deuce and forward Yame Butler who broke the streak, with the guard scoring 19 second half points and adding five more assists, ending the game with 25 points and 9 assists, both season and career highs for Drake.

After defeating William & Mary 86-66, the Dragons again welcomed tough competition to the DAC, as the UNCW Seahawks, the winners of seven straight, came to town. The Dragons were down 61-59 with under a minute to go, Shane Blakeney drove into the paint and landed a hookshot, eventually sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, both teams struggled to score, but with 30 seconds remaining, UNCW’s Greedy Williams hit two free throws, setting the Seahawks up five. With 17 seconds left, a Deuce layup in the paint brought it to a one score game, before Cole Hargrove fouled Sean Moore, who missed both shots from the charity stripe. A Villiam Garcia Adsten defensive rebound then led to a final drive with under ten seconds left, where Drake received the ball and hit a pullup jumper with three seconds left to re-tie the game at 69. 

Despite losing the game 81-79 in double overtime, Drake’s nine points in overtime, and 21 points for the game both led the team, and helped keep pace with an incredibly strong UNCW team.

In addition to winning the prestigious Triangle Athlete of the Week award, Drake took home Big 5 Player of the Week honors, the first Dragon to earn the award since Amari Williams over a year earlier.

Catch Deuce and the Dragons this Saturday at 2pm, as they once again take on the William & Mary Tribe, this time in Williamsburg.

Drexel’s matchup against the Elon Phoenix on Jan. 16th showed hope for the Dragon’s future games. Drexel opened the game with a high tempo, as their pace of play was noticeably faster compared to Phoenix’s. Despite all this, the Dragons couldn’t resist their third consecutive loss in their home (65-54). 

The Dragons opened the game with two 3-pointers, passing the ball around quickly and leaving Jason Drake and Kobe MaGee wide-open for shots. Unfortunately, following back to back 3-pointers, the pace on the court decreased due to Drexel’s turnovers and missed 3-point jumpers. As the game proceeded, the hype among fans was also quickly lost. After losing their tempo, the Dragons became more fragile in both defence and attack. 

Despite their shortcomings in the game, Drake and MaGee’s three-point shooting was remarkable, with MaGee leading Drexel with 17 points and six rebounds and Drake adding 15. Butler followed close behind Drake in scoring with 11 points. Cole Hargrove was also physically tremendous and demonstrated his difference as a rim protector, especially in the 2nd half. 

Despite the Dragons best efforts, Elon’s triumph was led by Sam Sherry, who finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. Twins T.J. and T.K. Simpkins twinned with 15 points.