The 2013-14 athletic season at Drew University held a number of memorable moments from thrilling finishes to record-breaking milestones, along with some amazing individual and team accomplishments. In this summer series, we count down the Top 10 spots from the past year on the courts, fields and turf in Madison, N.J. A position on the countdown will be revealed every Tuesday and Thursday. A "Best of the Rest" list will be revealed before the No. 1 moment to highlight the memories that just missed the cut.
No. 6: Men's Lacrosse Wins Emotionally Charged Back-to-Back Games to Clinch Playoffs An indelible quality of a successful team is the ability to fight when backed into a corner. Add in the mixed emotions of some stirring off-the-field activities, and you're in quite a pressure cooker.
The Drew University men's lacrosse team had a 1-3 record in the Landmark Conference and were faced with two must-win games at home in Ranger Stadium against The Catholic University of America and The United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Before the Catholic contest on April 12, the Ranger family honored the memory of Brian Loos C'95. Loos was a four-year member of the men's lacrosse team at Drew and a former captain who passed away in February of 2013. With a mix of emotion and adrenaline pumping together, the Rangers stormed out to a 4-1 lead that featured four consecutive goals and three straight from senior attacker
Mike Marone.
Drew would take the 5-2 lead into halftime and kept the foot on the gas coming out of the locker room. The Rangers scored three straight to open the third quarter to take an 8-2 lead and take control of the conference battle leading to a 10-7 victory to keep hope alive.
Marone finished the day with four goals and two assists, while classmate
Andrew Somps added a goal and three assists. Senior goalkeeper
Kyle Mariboe made 14 saves between the pipes after facing 37 Cardinal shots.
The Rangers had a week to reflect on the win and find a way to carry the momentum into the Landmark Conference finale against the Mariners on April 19. The date was also set for Senior Day at Ranger Stadium, where a sizeable class of 11 would toe the turf in Madison for the final time. On the field, the stars aligned across the Landmark to set up a win-and-in game for the Rangers.
Perhaps the Rangers had Lady Luck on their side. The line of 7-7-7 was prominent in a 12-7 victory over USMMA to clinch the fourth and final berth in the Landmark Conference Championships. Behind Marone's career-high seven points, a seven-goal Drew fourth quarter, and just seven goals allowed by Mariboe in net, Drew advanced to the postseason for the ninth time in the last 11 years.
Drew led just 4-1 at halftime, but methodically built a second half lead with a four-goal run and the offensive explosion in the final quarter. Somps netted three goals and added an assist in his final home game, while another senior in
Nate Kotarra found the net twice and picked up two assists in the victory.
In essence, this top moment was the sound of the final horn on that Saturday, which signified that Drew would be playing postseason lacrosse. But what will stick in the memory is the journey to get to that moment. From a relentless winter that refused to go away to start the season, to a slow start in both the conference and non-conference slates, to the emotional events in Ranger Stadium surrounding the final two games; the Rangers found a way to block it all out and go to work.
Drew's run came to an end in the Landmark semifinals, but the 2014 season will be remembered for the late-season run to the playoffs and the never-say-die attitude that has taken root in the program.
Drew Athletics Top 10 Moments of 2013-1410. Women's Basketball Wins Double-Overtime Thriller at Goucher College9. Michael Pezzuti and Ricardo Castro Named NSCAA All-Region8. Records Fall for Swimming Teams at Landmark Conference Championships7. Klinger's Buzzer Beater Gives Men's Basketball Overtime Win at Juniata6. Men's Lacrosse Wins Emotionally Powered Back-to-Back Games to Clinch Playoffs
5. Thursday, July 24
4. Tuesday, July 29
3. Thursday, July 31
2. Tuesday, August 5
Best of the Rest: Thursday, August 7
1. Tuesday, August 12
