Drexel Reveals 2017 Schedule

The Drexel Dragons are the 40th team in our 2017 schedule preview. The Dragons went 6-9 overall in 2016 (nice), and 2-3 in CAA play. Drexel fell to eventual CAA champion Towson, 10-6, in the CAA semifinals. Let’s dive into their schedule.

DREXEL

The Dragons begin the season as they have the past few seasons, as they take on the Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville on February 18. Their difficult February continues with their home opener on February 25 against Albany, followed three days later at home against Villanova.

The month of March begins in Poughkeepsie, as the Dragons take on MAAC contender Marist on the 4th. The Dragons return home to Vidas Field to take on Bryant on March 10, followed two days later by St. Joe’s, which is also at home. Nonconference play wraps up on the road, as Drexel goes up to the Bronx to take on St. John’s on March 18, followed by a trip to Providence to take on the Friars on the 26th.

CAApril™ begins at home against the two teams that played in the CAA championship game. The Dragons will host defending CAA champion Towson on April 1, followed by Fairfield on April 8. The Dragons then travel to Hempstead to take on Hofstra on the 15th. Against these three CAApril™ opponents last season, the Dragons went 0-3. If the Dragons want to make sure they have a spot in the CAA Tournament in May, they’ll need to beat at least one of these teams, along with their final two opponents. Drexel hosts Delaware on April 22. Last year down in Newark, the Dragons defeated the Blue Hens in overtime, 6-5, which helped them keep their postseason hopes alive. The regular season finale is in Amherst against UMass on April 28. The Dragons won that battle, 10-5, to earn their spot in the CAA Tournament.

The Dragons return a bunch of key players on offense in 2017, including assists and points leader Matthew Varian. Leading goal scorer Robert Frazee also returns, as well as Cole Shafer, Joe Rainoldi, Marshal King, Will Manganiello, and Jacob O’Donnell. Drexel’s top seven scorers are all back, and that should be a good thing for Brian Voelker’s squad. Defense will be the main concern, as the Dragons lose starters Pat Root and Miles Thomas to graduation. Jake Kiernan started all but one game last season, and is the only returning starting defender on the team, as he led the team with 21 caused turnovers in 2016. Jake Gennosa, Jude Whalen, and Matt Klinges are candidates to fill those two open starting spots, while the defensive midfield spots are also a question with the departure of Hank Brown and Jordan Cunningham. Jimmy Joe Granito returns to guard the net for his senior year, while Nabil Akl returns as the primary face-off taker.

To see every team’s schedule and which one’s we’ve highlighted, check our our master schedule list.