Eleven-point-three seconds.
It’s barely enough time to tie a shoelace, buckle up a helmet or strap on pads. But in 11.3 seconds the fate of Drexel’s men’s lacrosse program tipped.
In past seasons and leading up to those fleeting moments in the May 11 game against rival Penn, it’s safe to say that some of the most visceral memories for Drexel fans and former players were of pain and frustration. But this season, Drexel gave its fans some unforgettable moments of joy. And the transition from NCAA newcomer to upset sensation happened in an instant. Or 11.3 of them, to be precise.
Drexel walked away that day with a 16-11 win against the team that many considered to be among the top four in the nation. While the Dragons would eventually fall to a dominant Denver team in the NCAA quarterfinals on May 18, the tremor of Drexel’s victory on Franklin Field felt more like a continental shift as it reverberated through the college lacrosse landscape.
The Dragons’ nine straight victories, their first conference championship and first NCAA Tournament appearance amounted to the final sprint in a grueling marathon that had spanned 43 years of lacrosse in West Philadelphia. Then, in a matter of 11.3 seconds, the Dragons arrived.