In Camden, New Jersey, the 76ers went from the basketball court to the chess boards for the second annual Melton’s Make Your Move chess event. 76ers players DeAnthony Melton and Paul Reed, as well as President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and chess influencer, Levy Rozman, were in attendance for a unique community event. 

Over a dozen local chess students came to the facility and had the opportunity to face off against all four celebrity participants, with a few students even defeating the 76ers players in their matches.

A chess tournament might seem like an unusual event for the 76ers to participate in, but switching up the ‘nerdy’ mindset regarding chess is one thing De’Anthony Melton hopes to do. 

“For me, chess has been a safe haven,” Melton said, “I play on my phone almost every day and I love how it brings people together.” 

This was Melton’s second year hosting the event, and many believe it was not just a success once again, but an improvement. 

“I think it’s important for kids to see that he’s a basketball player on the court who has high basketball IQ and high chess IQ,” Morey mentioned. “We leveled up the event a little bit this year by having Levy (Rosman) who’s obviously a big personality. We feel it’s important for us to keep the kids interested.”

A chess influencer is a title that did not exist a decade ago, but Rozman is helping take charge in changing that. The content creator gained popularity on Youtube and Twitch during the pandemic, and has been labeled ‘The Internet’s Chess Teacher.’ 

“Growing up, playing chess got you labeled a ‘weirdo’ and subject to bullying,” Rozman said. “So now, it’s really special that we have so many cool athletes that kids look up to playing chess.”

As the chess matches continued, DeAnthony Melton was able to share some special moments with his young chess opponents. Between the playful banter and light trash talk, one thing remained apparent, and that was the care for the community’s youth that Melton promotes.

Melton has been recovering from a back injury that has sidelined him since Feb. 27, and has plagued him since December. The 6’2” guard was averaging 11.5 points per game prior to his injury, and his along with teammate Joel Embiid’s absence has been a contributing factor for 76ers fall from fifth to seventh in the eastern conference standings. 

As an athlete, taking time away from your recovery is a noble thing, and hosting a community event should earn Melton recognition. 

“I think it’s important to realize that anybody can play chess,” DeAnthony commented. “Some kids might not even watch basketball, but it’s cool connecting with them on the chess table.”

On Sunday, March 10, the second-seeded Drexel Men’s Basketball Team competed in their first game of the Jersey Mike’s CAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the 7th-seeded Stony Brook Seawolves at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington DC. The Coastal Atlantic Association Tournament, held from March 8 to March 12 and hosted fourteen different teams from across the nation. Due to their performance in conference play, finishing the regular season with a 13-5 CAA record, Drexel earned a double bye which meant their first game was in the quarterfinals.  

Before the game, CAA awards were presented to players. Sophomore Justin Moore was named a Third Team All-CAA Selection and senior Amari Willams was named the CAA’s Defensive Player of the Year for a record setting third time in a row, as well as being named the CAA’s First Team for the second straight season in a vote by the league’s coaches. 

Drexel’s starting lineup consisted of Lucas Monroe, Justin Moore, Luke House, Mate Okros and Amari Williams. While the game got off to a slow start, the Dragons were able to take the lead ahead of Stony Brook. By halftime, the score was Drexel 36 to Stony Brook’s 28. House led in scoring with nine points, followed by Monroe with seven points. 

In the second half, Drexel continued to stay ahead of the Seawolves, with 12:20 on the clock, Drexel led 51-44. The turning point of the game came when Amari Williams went down with an injury with just over 17 minutes left in the contest. 

After securing a defensive rebound, Williams attempted to break the Dragons out of their half of the court when Stony Brook’s Andre Snoddy attempted to draw a charge on the big man, tangling his leg between Williams’ which sent the British big man to the ground in visible pain.

Stony Brook pushed with their offense on the backs of their two big men, Chris Maidoh and Keenan Fitzmorris, against a suddenly undersized Drexel squad. And so, with two minutes left, Drexel was up by one, with a score of 66-65. With ten seconds left, Stony Brook scored, tying the game 71-71, and sending the game into overtime. 

The Dragons and the Seawolves remained neck to neck in overtime. With 20 seconds left in overtime, the score was 80-78 Drexel. Stony Brook managed to score, tying the score 80-80, and sending the game into a second overtime. The second overtime remained close, but Stony Brook managed to just barely stay ahead of Drexel. 

With a few last-minute shots, Stony Brook won the game by a score of 91-88 and advanced to the semifinals of the tournament where they faced Hofstra and won by a score of 63-59, ultimately ending their season in the conference finals at the hands of College of Charleston. 

Luke House led the team in points, scoring a total of 28 points, which is a career-high. He made seven out of his eleven 3-point attempts, and his 28 points tied for the second most ever in a CAA postseason game by a Drexel player. He was followed by Lucas Monroe who scored 13 points and Garfield Turner who scored 12 points, and also had a team-high of nine rebounds. 

As the season ends, Drexel’s Men Basketball will face some big changes. This season, they are graduating seven out of their seventeen players, which includes four seniors and three graduate students. These players are Lamar Oden Jr, Dean Wang, Hubert Bayigamba, Amari Williams, Lucas Monroe, Luke House and Mate Okros. Despite this, Drexel has big things in store for their men’s basketball team, including the recruitment of Clemson Edomwonyin and Josh Reed, both of whom are expected to make big impacts for the future of the team. 

On Sunday, March 10, the second-seeded Drexel Men’s Basketball Team competed in their first game of the Jersey Mike’s CAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the 7th-seeded Stony Brook Seawolves at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington DC. The Coastal Atlantic Association Tournament, held from March 8 to March 12 and hosted fourteen different teams from across the nation. Due to their performance in conference play, finishing the regular season with a 13-5 CAA record, Drexel earned a double bye which meant their first game was in the quarterfinals.  

Before the game, CAA awards were presented to players. Sophomore Justin Moore was named a Third Team All-CAA Selection and senior Amari Willams was named the CAA’s Defensive Player of the Year for a record setting third time in a row, as well as being named the CAA’s First Team for the second straight season in a vote by the league’s coaches. 

Drexel’s starting lineup consisted of Lucas Monroe, Justin Moore, Luke House, Mate Okros and Amari Williams. While the game got off to a slow start, the Dragons were able to take the lead ahead of Stony Brook. By halftime, the score was Drexel 36 to Stony Brook’s 28. House led in scoring with nine points, followed by Monroe with seven points. 

In the second half, Drexel continued to stay ahead of the Seawolves, with 12:20 on the clock, Drexel led 51-44. The turning point of the game came when Amari Williams went down with an injury with just over 17 minutes left in the contest. 

After securing a defensive rebound, Williams attempted to break the Dragons out of their half of the court when Stony Brook’s Andre Snoddy attempted to draw a charge on the big man, tangling his leg between Williams’ which sent the British big man to the ground in visible pain.

Stony Brook pushed with their offense on the backs of their two big men, Chris Maidoh and Keenan Fitzmorris, against a suddenly undersized Drexel squad. And so, with two minutes left, Drexel was up by one, with a score of 66-65. With ten seconds left, Stony Brook scored, tying the game 71-71, and sending the game into overtime. 

The Dragons and the Seawolves remained neck to neck in overtime. With 20 seconds left in overtime, the score was 80-78 Drexel. Stony Brook managed to score, tying the score 80-80, and sending the game into a second overtime. The second overtime remained close, but Stony Brook managed to just barely stay ahead of Drexel. 

With a few last-minute shots, Stony Brook won the game by a score of 91-88 and advanced to the semifinals of the tournament where they faced Hofstra and won by a score of 63-59, ultimately ending their season in the conference finals at the hands of College of Charleston. 

Luke House led the team in points, scoring a total of 28 points, which is a career-high. He made seven out of his eleven 3-point attempts, and his 28 points tied for the second most ever in a CAA postseason game by a Drexel player. He was followed by Lucas Monroe who scored 13 points and Garfield Turner who scored 12 points, and also had a team-high of nine rebounds. 

As the season ends, Drexel’s Men Basketball will face some big changes. This season, they are graduating seven out of their seventeen players, which includes four seniors and three graduate students. These players are Lamar Oden Jr, Dean Wang, Hubert Bayigamba, Amari Williams, Lucas Monroe, Luke House and Mate Okros. Despite this, Drexel has big things in store for their men’s basketball team, including the recruitment of Clemson Edomwonyin and Josh Reed, both of whom are expected to make big impacts for the future of the team. 

The Schuylkill River has long been a mecca of sorts for collegiate rowing, with the iconic Boathouse Row standing strong on its banks by which thousands of rowers race every year. When I arrived at the Bachelors Barge Club, Drexel’s house on the row, I was immediately taken aback by the passion and history surrounding the house, and the environment full of excitement for rowing. 

The sport of rowing has had a dynamic history, as it was one of the first major spectator sports to gain prominence in the U.S. 

“It’s interesting to see how rowing connects to the sports world today,” Boathouse captain Henry Hauptfuhrer said. “Back in the 19th century, before baseball and football, it was all rowing.” 

Following the Great Depression, however, the sport of rowing lost its momentum, as the financial burden of hosting extravagant and highly attended regattas became too much for many boating clubs to handle. 

Drexel’s boathouse, built in 1893, is filled to the brim with history, but has come a long way from its origins as the first boathouse on the Schuylkill. The Bachelors Barge Club now is a social hub for members, and features a training room with many Erg machines for rowers to practice on. 

When I toured the house, Director of Boathouse Operations, Ray Del Bianco, ensured I got the full Drexel Rowing experience. After touring the house, Ray taught me the proper form on Drexel’s Erg machines before presenting the different styles of boats and equipment the team uses. New technology including a speaker system the coxswain uses to guide the boat’s progress with the coach’s advice has allowed the program to continue reaching new heights. 

Last year, Drexel finished the season as the #14 boat in the nation, a big milestone for the team, and one they hope to continue progressing on. 

“Our goal now is to take it to the next step,” Head Coach Matt Weaver comments. “With the passion we have here, anything’s possible.” After a strong showing at the Las Vegas Invitational earlier this spring, becoming a top ten program in the nation is not out of reach.

The Drexel Men’s Rowing team features athletes from all over the U.S, as well as multiple international athletes, including rowers from Serbia, Germany, England, Romania, the Czech Republic and Egypt. In the boat, having connection is key to success, and building community among all the rowers is something that Rowing Director Paul Savell and Head Coach Matt Weaver put emphasis on. 

“We work in the fall on moving together, working really hard, and on top of that doing things together as a team,” Weaver notes, “It allows us to train harder and connect as a boat.”

As my day at the boathouse continued, I was able to sit in on a rowing practice, and witness the team in their element. Right as practice began, the house music was already playing, a tradition the team uses to get the energy ready for a tough day on the water. From there I was brought up to the pre-practice meeting where the boat assignments and plans for the day were presented. Additionally, I was able to participate in another team tradition, being the bird of the day, where one of the team members reads a description of a bird before attempting to mimic their call. 

The history and tradition that exists at the Bachelor Barge Club and with the Drexel rowing program should be enough to draw any rower to the program. Furthermore, the team’s community and passion for the sport and for each other has allowed them to thrive as a team in the past years, and should allow them continued growth. 

This Saturday, the team faces off against fellow Philadelphia schools Villanova and La Salle on the Schuylkill, as they start another season of competition — a season where the goals are as high as the spirit at Boathouse Row.

The Schuylkill River has long been a mecca of sorts for collegiate rowing, with the iconic Boathouse Row standing strong on its banks by which thousands of rowers race every year. When I arrived at the Bachelors Barge Club, Drexel’s house on the row, I was immediately taken aback by the passion and history surrounding the house, and the environment full of excitement for rowing. 

The sport of rowing has had a dynamic history, as it was one of the first major spectator sports to gain prominence in the U.S. 

“It’s interesting to see how rowing connects to the sports world today,” Boathouse captain Henry Hauptfuhrer said. “Back in the 19th century, before baseball and football, it was all rowing.” 

Following the Great Depression, however, the sport of rowing lost its momentum, as the financial burden of hosting extravagant and highly attended regattas became too much for many boating clubs to handle. 

Drexel’s boathouse, built in 1893, is filled to the brim with history, but has come a long way from its origins as the first boathouse on the Schuylkill. The Bachelors Barge Club now is a social hub for members, and features a training room with many Erg machines for rowers to practice on. 

When I toured the house, Director of Boathouse Operations, Ray Del Bianco, ensured I got the full Drexel Rowing experience. After touring the house, Ray taught me the proper form on Drexel’s Erg machines before presenting the different styles of boats and equipment the team uses. New technology including a speaker system the coxswain uses to guide the boat’s progress with the coach’s advice has allowed the program to continue reaching new heights. 

Last year, Drexel finished the season as the #14 boat in the nation, a big milestone for the team, and one they hope to continue progressing on. 

“Our goal now is to take it to the next step,” Head Coach Matt Weaver comments. “With the passion we have here, anything’s possible.” After a strong showing at the Las Vegas Invitational earlier this spring, becoming a top ten program in the nation is not out of reach.

The Drexel Men’s Rowing team features athletes from all over the U.S, as well as multiple international athletes, including rowers from Serbia, Germany, England, Romania, the Czech Republic and Egypt. In the boat, having connection is key to success, and building community among all the rowers is something that Rowing Director Paul Savell and Head Coach Matt Weaver put emphasis on. 

“We work in the fall on moving together, working really hard, and on top of that doing things together as a team,” Weaver notes, “It allows us to train harder and connect as a boat.”

As my day at the boathouse continued, I was able to sit in on a rowing practice, and witness the team in their element. Right as practice began, the house music was already playing, a tradition the team uses to get the energy ready for a tough day on the water. From there I was brought up to the pre-practice meeting where the boat assignments and plans for the day were presented. Additionally, I was able to participate in another team tradition, being the bird of the day, where one of the team members reads a description of a bird before attempting to mimic their call. 

The history and tradition that exists at the Bachelor Barge Club and with the Drexel rowing program should be enough to draw any rower to the program. Furthermore, the team’s community and passion for the sport and for each other has allowed them to thrive as a team in the past years, and should allow them continued growth. 

This Saturday, the team faces off against fellow Philadelphia schools Villanova and La Salle on the Schuylkill, as they start another season of competition — a season where the goals are as high as the spirit at Boathouse Row.

Raul Riadauz was on his way to score on Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake. 11 yards in front of goal he forgot the ball while dribbling. It was not an error from the 33-year-old striker, rather it was the pitch that made it impossible to play at Subaru Park that night.

After two draws against Chicago, and Kansas City, Philadelphia’s MLS team, the Philadelphia Union was ready to get the first three points of the season.

In their second home game of the season, they awaited the Seattle Sounders who brought the rain with them to Chester’s Subaru Park, the home field of the Union.

Moments before kickoff the rainfall increased immensely. With the first passes, it was almost certain that the game could not be played. The ball barely bounced on the wet field. Puddles were now visible all over the pitch.

“During the warmup, the field was still ok, but the field became worse in a very short amount of time,” said Brian Schmetzer, head coach of the Seattle Sounders.

Seattle’s Raul Riadauz was sent off with a perfect through ball to the Philadelphia goal. It would have been a great chance, and most likely a goal, but Riadauz was denied access to the goal because of a huge puddle inside the 18-yard box that stopped the ball from moving. 

Philadelphia was able to clear the ball. Only five minutes into the game, the referee had seen enough. Both teams disappeared in the locker rooms. A 30-minute break was announced. 

Several Philadelphia Union staff members tried their best to shuffle the water from the field. It was not enough. The heavy rainfall continued.

Approximately one hour after kickoff, the game was officially postponed. When exactly the game will be rescheduled isn’t clear at this point.

The Philadelphia Union has announced that all tickets purchased for the original game will be valid for the rescheduled game.

The Union is on their way to Mexico to play Pachuca on Tuesday in the second leg of the round of 16 CONCACAF Champions Cup (0:0 in the first matchup), before returning to the US to play Austin on Saturday.

As we reach February, we are one step closer to Spring. However, while it might take a few more months for the weather to warm up, Drexel’s winter sports season has already heated up as Tennis, Squash, Wrestling and Basketball are all entering the thick of their respective seasons. While you may not have been following each sport closely, The Triangle is here to get you up to speed with what’s been happening on the various courts.

Women’s Squash:

Currently ranked 10th in the nation with a record of four wins and five losses, the Women’s Squash team has not been able to exactly replicate their success from the 2022-2023 season where they finished ranked fifth in the nation. The Dragons’ season featured four dominating wins this season, with their best win coming against the current 12th ranked team in the nation in Columbia University, and five losses, all against top-ten ranked teams. Even in the losses, however, the Dragons were in tight games, with three of their losses being decided by a score of five to four. On Feb. 9, Drexel will head to the Mid-Atlantic Squash Conference Championships to try and take home some hardware before heading back for more regular season play. 

Men’s Squash:

Similar to the Women, the Men’s Squash team is experiencing a dip in the national rankings this season as they are presently ranked eighth in the nation after finishing last season at number five. Also similar to the Women, the Men have more or less taken care of business against teams ranked lower than them, while suffering defeats to teams ranked above them. The Dragons will look to earn some signature wins at the Mid-Atlantic Squash Conference Championships next week. 

Women’s Tennis:

While they have only officially participated in two matches, the Drexel Women’s Tennis team is off to a hot start as they have won matchups against Lehigh and Rider by scores of 7-0 and 6-1 respectively. Additionally, Drexel’s number one player Lorie Lemongo, a Junior from Yaounde, Cameroon, was named CAA player of the week on Jan. 30. The Dragons will look to keep up their momentum as they meet Mt. Saint Mary’s and Delaware State on Feb. 2 and 4, respectively. 

Men’s Tennis: 

In their first two team matches of the season, the Dragons are a dominant 2-0. Across their victories over Villanova and Mt. Saint Mary’s, Drexel has dropped just one single match. While the team’s success has been a complete effort, the Dragons are led by Alan Jesudason, the team’s number one singles player, and his doubles partner Alex De Sousa. Together, De Sousa and Jesudason were named the CAA Doubles Team of the Week. Drexel will look to stay undefeated as they head up to Long Island and take on the Hofstra Pride on Feb. 3. 

Wrestling:

In a season that is shaping up to be one to forget, Drexel Wrestling is currently 2-8 in all matches and 1-3 in conference play.  While their victories have been hard to come by for the Dragons, they were able to take down Princeton for their first EIWA win of the year. After being one of the six Dragons to win a bout against Princeton, Sophomore Jordan Soriano captured a win over the nation’s 28th-ranked wrestler, Jason Miranda, in Drexel’s loss to 20th-ranked Stanford. 

There is a narrative that Drexel students do not have a lot of school spirit. Some people blame this on the fact that Drexel doesn’t have a football team. However, the seemingly apathetic spirit on campus is the result of a more complex combination of factors. 

One reason for a lack of school spirit is the demographics of students. Drexel does not follow the traditional model of American universities. With co-op, the quarter system and no summer breaks, students who attend Drexel are more likely to be those who prioritize tests over tailgates. 

This is something Drexel’s Manager of Marketing and Fan Engagement, Stephanie Abello, understands. 

“I think that our student body is very unique in the sense that our students are working hard at all times. I feel like with our quarter system, it is always midterms, some big project, paper, or exam due. I think that our school spirit is unique in that sense. There is some kind of unity in that struggle and it translates into this interesting bond, mutual understanding, and respect amongst students,” said Abello.

A study of high schoolers by the Connecticut Association of Schools found that “students with higher levels of school spirit are substantially more likely to say that they often felt happy during the past school year than those students with low school spirit (76% vs. 13%).” While the nature of high school and college school spirit may vary, the basic principles are the same. Students who feel a strong sense of community in their educational institution are happier. 

The power of school spirit and the community that can stem from it is not lost on Abello.

“Athletics is very unique, here at Drexel and anywhere really, in the sense that it can create a sense of community and belonging that transcends everything else. People all come together and root for the same team in a way that creates a sense of belonging, unity, and community,” added Abello.

While some may think that Drexel’s athletic program does not lend itself to the immediate community building that can be found in a big school like Duke’s student section, Abello sees some big advantages to the small Drexel athletics program. 

“I think that connection [at Drexel] is so much more prevalent than at other bigger schools. I mean at home games, you can come down to the court and high-five our basketball teams after they win and you just don’t see that at other schools. So I think it can create that sense of community and belonging both within the fans in connecting to the team and the athletic department, even the staff,” said Abello.

Everybody on Drexel’s campus has their own story to tell surrounding school spirit and Homecoming week was the perfect time to visit the DAC to get some answers.

It is a chilly Thursday night. Inside the Daskalakis Athletic Center, which sits at the heart of Drexel’s campus, the Dragons are taking on conference opponent Monmouth. Banners and posters advertising free entrance into the game line Lancaster Walk. Music is blaring out towards pedestrians through speakers. And yet, some students keep walking past. After a historic 5-0 start to conference play, why are students not lining up to watch the men’s basketball team? 

“Honestly, I didn’t know there was a basketball game,” admits Carlos. His friend Kunaal chimes in, saying, “I got homework to do.” He also adds that he has, “not been to a basketball game since [he] came here.” 

Speaking on Drexel’s overall school spirit, Isabella discusses her belief that, “Drexel doesn’t really have school spirit, it is just the college we go to.” 

On the other hand, Maya and Michael both convey a desire to increase their school spirit. Maya says, “I want to have more school spirit but I am not connected to Drexel enough yet.” Michael described his view, saying, “I feel like I have my Drexel stuff on a lot, but I don’t actually go to events.”

While outside of the DAC students were speed-walking to get out of the freezing Philadelphia night, inside the DAC almost 1400 Dragons were packed into the stands. To keep in with the theme of “Bluau”, the bulk of the student section wore blue Hawaiian shirts and yellow leis. While there were certainly some empty seats in the general admission bleachers, the student section was packed. The DAC Pack, Drexel basketball’s most passionate supporters, stood and cheered all game long, taking up the first five or so rows of the student section. 

On a frigid Thursday night, where students could easily find another activity to fill their evening, the hundreds of students in attendance did not regret their decision.

Noah, who was attending his fifth Drexel basketball game, explained, “It’s fun to support a team that you have a connection with, plus the games are really fun and the stadium is really small so you can get an intimate experience and a sense of what the game is like up close.”

Another fan, Justin, explained that his motivation to come to the game was simply to, “watch some good basketball.” He identified himself as someone whose school spirit was about average, but explained that he thought the student body would feel their spirit increase if, “Drexel could win some games at home. I’m tryna get some Shake Shack too so I want them to score 70”, in reference to the Dragons’ promotion with Shake Shack where fans receive a free hamburger if the team scores 70 points in a home win.

One student, Zizi, was emphatic in her school spirit. 

“I just love to support my school, like ‘Go Dragons!’ We gotta have spirit we gotta show out.” When asked why she comes to games, Zizi explained, “I feel like it’s a fun part of the environment and after a long day of classes I wanna come here and celebrate with other Dragons and have fun and support…I’m gonna keep coming [to games], I’m gonna be here my first, second, third, fourth year. Every year”

Peyton, was attending her first game. She decided to walk into the DAC because “there are a lot of signs and I haven’t been to one yet…It seemed fun.” While she thought she would be back for more games in the future, she did admit that she didn’t have as much school spirit as she would like. 

While Peyton was working on increasing her school spirit, another student, Will, was confident in his school spirit level and is hoping that other students will hop on the bandwagon and support the Dragons. 

“It’s nice to be at a school that has a big arena, lots of stuff going on, cheerleaders, announcers, and the team is good this year so it’s fun to watch.” On his school spirit, he added, “I do have school spirit. I wish that a lot more people did, and I wish that a lot more kids at this school would show up to games like this.” 

However, Will could not put his finger on a certain initiative that the University would be able to put in place to get the full support from all corners of the student body. “I don’t know what it’s gonna take, but I really do wish that more people would come out, stand up and cheer for our team.”

As a packed student section watched the Dragons snatch a thrilling comeback victory from Monmouth, the fans were loud, proud, and on their feet as they celebrated the continuation of Drexel Men’s Basketball’s historic 6-0 record in CAA play. 

Greg Cusick, Senior Associate Athletics Director, is encouraged by the direction Men’s Basketball is headed. 

“Homecoming last year was one of the stronger crowds that most of the current student body has ever experienced, so that was really positive feedback to hear. Couple that with a sellout versus Temple, a sellout for the Homecoming game on Jan. 20th against Delaware, that speaks to positive momentum and growth which is exciting,” said Cusick.

While, admittedly, sports are not the only avenue through which students can display their spirit, it is one of the easiest and most tangible ways. This is something Cusick emphasized. “Coming out to an athletic event, in essence, is showing your spirit. You are supporting fellow students, wearing Drexel gear, showing Drexel pride, and cheering for your university.”

On the surface, one might be confronted with an outward-facing, apathetic culture at Drexel. However, if you look closer and step into the world of Drexel sports, there is a strong sense of community and school spirit. While the freezing pedestrians on Lancaster Walk may not overwhelm you with their school pride, inside the walls of the DAC, you can find a few hundred students coming together to form a community that celebrates their shared school spirit. 

In reality, Drexel’s school spirit is not dictated by any one group. The spirit of the University comes from a wide array of sources. Students, alumni and neighbors all come together and show their Drexel pride, creating a community in the stands as student-athletes compete between the lines. 

In the last game of the season, Drexel women’s soccer crushed Hampton University by a score of 8-1. In the game, Drexel forward Delaney Lappin scored one goal, assisted four, and made Drexel history. 

After a disappointing season with an overall record of 7-8-3, it was already clear that Drexel would have no chance of making it to the CAA playoffs coming into their final conference matchup on Oct. 22. Regardless of that, Coach Ray Goon’s team wanted to finish off the season. Drexel won both of their last two home games against UNCW (University of North Carolina Wilmington) and Hampton. Especially their last game against Hampton is one that will be remembered for a while at Drexel. 

The 8-1 victory was not only Drexel’s third-highest win of all time, but senior forward Delaney Lappin also made history in her last-ever game for the Dragons. With four assists and one goal against Hampton, Lappin broke Drexel’s all-time record for the most scored career points. In four years playing for Drexel Lappin scored 24 goals and had 16 assists.

“It was a great four years here; it was a great experience. It is so awesome to go out this way, go out strong. The record on top of that is just the icing on the cake,” said Lappin looking back on her time as a Drexel soccer player. 

Overall Drexel is going to lose 13 seniors for the upcoming season including key players like Delaney Lappin, Annalena O’Reilly, Emma Goodrow, Molly Piso and Isabel Kuzy. Drexel head coach Ray Goon has the challenge to fill these gaps and to form a new team that can compete in the CAA.

As the Drexel men’s soccer team took the bus five hours north to Hempstead, New York on Friday, Oct. 21, they understood that the forthcoming match was the most important ninety minutes of the season. The Dragons came into the game in second place in the CAA, and in their last conference game of the season they would be taking on Hofstra University, the third place team who could overtake them with a win. If the Dragons won, they could gain home field advantage throughout the CAA playoffs, but with a loss they would no longer control this fate.

From the start of the match, the tension between the two teams was palpable. The game got off to a physical start, with both teams accumulating fouls in a hurry. Throughout this season, the Dragons have predicated their offensive success off of an attack that possesses the ball and breaks down defenses through an almost tiki-taka style of offense with lots of quick passes and fluid movement surrounding the ball. Drexel tried to implement this same strategy throughout the match, however, they just seemed unable to successfully build up and get the final pass needed to score. The first 25 minutes of the match were largely uneventful, with the few chances belonging to Drexel. This rapidly changed when Hofstra’s Eliot Goldthorp received the ball in an unassuming area of the pitch and proceeded to take on multiple Drexel defenders before launching a dangerous shot on net from about 19 yards out, which Drexel goalkeeper Alessandro Capogna was forced to deflect out of bounds for a corner kick. This moment of offensive brilliance from Goldthorp created the most dangerous moment in the game to that point, and set the Pride up for a crucial set piece. The corner that followed was hardly dangerous and a Drexel defender easily headed the ball out of the 18-yard box, however, Goldthrop was the first to the cleared ball and quickly shot it towards the net, where the unorganized Drexel backline had left forward Ryan Carmichael unmarked. Carmichael calmly turned and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, giving Hofstra a 1-0 lead that they would not relinquish.

As the game proceeded, Drexel continued being the more dangerous team, but the Dragons just always seemed to be one pass short of a successful play. In the final 20 minutes, Drexel had three opportunities from within the six-yard box that likely should have been goals, but each of them narrowly missed the net. Until the final seconds, Drexel applied pressure on the Pride, but it was clear that Hofstra was going to be parking the bus as much as possible and were intent on muddying up the playing field, something that severely impeded the technical playing style of Drexel. 

With the loss, the Dragons fell swiftly from second to fourth place in the CAA. This places them in a position to be the away team for the CAA playoffs, something that will negate one of the Dragons’ biggest advantages: playing at Vidas Field. Vidas is a very difficult field to play on due to it being a very old and hard pitch, and opponents have struggled all season to play with any technicality there. While the Dragons are still in the midst of an unexpectedly successful season, it will be hard to understate the frustration of how such a quality team had their destiny in their own hands and were unable to secure home field advantage at Vidas Field. 

The Dragons finish out their season at home against Fairleigh Dickinson University on Wednesday at 5 p.m for Senior Night before they head into the CAA Playoffs beginning on Nov. 2.