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For the second year in a row, Virginia opened its season against a scappy Drexel team. This year, the Cavaliers managed to not only shut the door on the Dragons, but keep it shut. Virginia scored four straight second half goals to break a 6-6 tie as the third-ranked Cavaliers defeated No. 18 Drexel, 11-7, in front of an overflow crowd of 2500 at Vidas Field in Philadelphia.

Garrett Billings, who had three goals and seven points in the game, set up Gavin Gill for an extra-man goal three minutes into the third period to give Virginia a 7-6 lead. The Cavaliers would not trail again. Brian Carroll scored his third goal of the game on the man-up late in the third and Peter Lamade and Billings added goals early in the fourth to give the Cavaliers a 10-6 lead. Virginia’s extra-man offense was the key to the victory, as the unit was perfect in four attempts with a man advantage.

With the victory, the Cavaliers avenged last season’s season-opening loss when they fell to the Dragons on their home field.

The homestanding Dragons excited the crowd early behind goals from Andew Chapman and Chris O’Connor to take a 2-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Jack Riley notched Virginia’s first goal at the 4:38 mark off a nice feed from Garrett Billings. Billings tied his career high with four assists. Senior Peter Lamade, playing for the injured Ben Rubeor on attack. forged the game’s first tie with his first goal as a Cavalier late in the quarter.

Kevin Stockel scored an extra-man goal 35 seconds into the second quarter as Drexel retook the lead. The Dragons’ advantage was shortlived however as Billings scored back-to-back goals to send Virginia into the lead at 4-3. Drexel matched the Cavaliers’ two-goal run behind goals by Ron Garling on extra man and Chapman.

Brian Carroll scored two extra-man goals in the final five minutes of the half as Virginia took a 6-5 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Colin Ambler, who scored both goals in the final 10 seconds to key Drexel’s win over Virginia last year, scored his only goal less than two minutes after halftime for the fifth tie of the game.

Playing under control throughout the second half, the Cavaliers made Drexel pay for two penalties in the third quarter. Billings found Gavin Gill alone on the left side and Gill easily beat goalie Bruce Bickford as Virginia regained a 7-6 lead.

Nearly 10 minutes later Billings found Carroll open in front as Virginia opened up its first two-goal lead at 8-6. Carroll’s goal was his third of the game, a career-high. All three of his goals came with a man advantage as Virginia scored its fourth consecutive man-up goal. For the game Virginia was 4-of-4 in extra-man situations, while Drexel was 2-of-6.

Lamade and Billings scored back-to-back goals in the opening minute-and-a-half of the final quarter as the lead extended to 10-6.

Greg Casey scored with 10:29 remaining to play but Drexel was unable to get any closer. Riley closed the scoring with his second goal with 2:25 left.

After allowing five goals in the opening 30 minutes, the Cavalier defense stiffened and gave up only two in the second half. Matt Kelly led the way with five ground balls, while Ken Clausen caused three turnovers.

Freshman Adam Ghitelman started in goal for the Cavaliers and finished with 10 saves. His 10 saves are third-most by a UVa freshman in his first start. Only Tillman Johnson and Derek Kenney had more.

Drexel goalkeeper Bruce Bickford again played well in the cage against Virginia, making 15 saves. A year ago Bickford made 18 saves in the Dragons’ victory in Charlottesville.

Virginia plays its home opener next Saturday, Febuary 23, against Stony Brook at 1 pm. Drexel returns to action the same day at Penn.