July 15, 2024 –
The first in a series for the Big Five athletic teams looking back at the bright, shining stars of the 2023-24 season.
We will name a team of the year and student athlete of the year for each school. In addition, we will list an honor roll of teams and student athletes. A team recognition will be noted by a championship, postseason advancement, and / or a significant achievement. To be named as a player one should have a national award or honor, a league accolade, significant achievement, or a team record.
Let’s take a look back at the past season at Vidas Field, the DAC, or on the river for Drexel University.
Team of the Year
Women’s Lacrosse
The Dragons finished with a 13 – 6 record and went 7 – 1 in the CAA. While Drexel lost in the CAA Final to Stony Brook, the team did earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. It is their fourth consecutive berth in the tournament. Drexel had an impressive resume as they defeated #25 Penn State (10 – 8) and #16 Navy (13 – 12) in a road game during the season. The Dragons fell to Princeton 14 – 9 in the first round. On offense Drexel scored 12 goals per game while giving up 9.05. On defense the opposition got 518 total shots, 399 required a save. The percentage for the Dragons 382 on goal on 486 shots was nearly75%. Corinne Bednarik anchored the offense while Jenika Cuocco was steadfast in the nets. In conference play Drexel ranked second in scoring offense getting 228 goals while giving up 172 to rank third. On defense DU was first in number of saves in the CAA.
Student Athletes of the Year
Jenika Cuocco – Women’s Lacrosse Goalie
A national leader played goalie for the Dragons at Vidas Field. Cuocco ranked number one in the nation in Saves stopping 224 from going into the net. Her save percentage also topped the nation with .569 while giving up 170 goals. Cuocco was second in the NCAA surrendering 11.79 goals per game. She led the CAA in all three categories. Cuocco was named as the conference Goalie of the Year for the second consecutive season, garnering second team All-American honors from USA Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse. In six games this season she made fifteen or more saves, turning in a career-high 18 against #5 Maryland.
Corinne Bednarik – Women’s Lacrosse Attack / Midfielder
She was named as the winner of the Mary Semanik Award. Bednarik brought the CAA Attacker of the Year award back to Drexel for the second consecutive season and was a CAA First Teamer. Bednarik tallied 99 points scoring 58 goals and added a program tying record 41 assists. She set the program record for most points in a single season. Bednarik tied the all-time Drexel record with 279 career points. The attacker also won 75 Draw Controls. She was held to one goal or less in 4 of 19 games played.
Team Honor Roll
Men’s Rowing
The team captured the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta Men’s title, a three-peat. It was their third consecutive win for the Varsity 8+ boat with a time of 5:52.474, the third consecutive win for the Dragons. It is the first time in the last 23 years. The 3rd Varsity 8+ boat turned in a time of 6:10.091. The Varsity 4+ rowed a time of 6:55.833.
The lineup for the winning Varsity 8+ was: Shell, Lois Krall III; Coxswain, Chloe Minicucci; Stroke, Josh Diggons, Nikola Loncar, Jack Anderson, Damian Lis, James Schmidt, Andrew Manns, John Little; Bow, Andrei Malis.
The Third Varsity 8+ Boat lineup consisted of Shell: Sandra Lee Sheller II, Coxswain: Matt Sherman, Stroke: Charlie Fortner, Daniel Yurcisin, Matthew Kennedy, Nick Foley, Jack Hutchinson, Jono Andersson, Collin Gross, and Dearon Tufankjian.
In the IRA National Championships Drexel matched their all-time best finish placing 15th overall. The Varsity 8+ finished 4th (5:49.049), Third V8+ placed second (5:59.613), while the Second V8+ and V4+ placed sixth in their races.
Men’s Soccer
The team posted its highest winning percentage since 1990 at .719 going 9 – 2 – 5 overall and did not lose at Vidas Field posting a 6 – 0 – 1 record. The Dragons qualified for their fourth consecutive CAA Tournament bid but fell on Penalty Kicks against Delaware in the quarterfinal round. On defense Drexel gave up a total of 17 goals over the season just 1.05 per game while scoring more than double that amount (2.38 per game 38 total) tops in the CAA. Drexel won games by an average scoring margin of 1.32 goals, the conference best. The Dragons posted an historic 6 – 0 win over FDU in the regular season final game. It was the first time the team scored 6 times in a contest since October 3, 2009. Goalie Alessandro Capogna made 45 saves over the season allowing 11 goals. His save percentage was .804 with 5 shutouts.
Men’s Basketball
For only the 11th time in school history the men’s basketball team posted a twenty win season going 20 – 12. The Dragons earned the second seed in the conference tournament but fell in double overtime in the quarterfinal round. During the season the team compiled a 13 – 5 record in the league. As an official member of the Big Five Drexel defeated nationally ranked Villanova at the Classic. Coach Zach Spiker earned the Big Five Coach of the Year award.
Women’s Basketball
The team finished with a 19 – 15 record, 10 – 8 in the CAA. Drexel went into the CAA Tournament as the #7 seed. Then with victories over Delaware, Monmouth, and Towson the team would play in the Championship game. All of the close losses during the season turned into victories. The tournament games by no more than two points. Drexel found themselves facing top-seeded Stony Brook in the final. The Dragons won by 68 – 60 to earn their third CAA title in program history and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Drexel fell to Texas in the opening round game in Austin. Brook Mullin scored 10.2 points per game while assisting 126 times, a team best. Amaris Baker led the team in scoring at 11.7 per game. Chloe Hodges had 174 rebounds with 56 off the offensive glass. Guard Grace O’Neill led the Dragons with 176 caroms.
Women’s Rowing
For the first time in program history the women’s rowing team qualified for the Island Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. The Varsity 8+ boat raced on Henley-on-Thames in London. It is quite an honor. Drexel fell in the first round to G.S.R. Aegir by three-and-a-quarter lengths. There 34 boats competing for 13 qualifying berths and Drexel earned one. The Dragons who rowed in this storied event are Coxswain; Chloe Speciale; Stroke; Taylor Powell, Kira Tracey, Julianna Rogers, Mollie Knoff, Ariana Townsend, Rita Keefer, Sarah Ghazaz, and Kayla Driscoll.
Student Athletes Honor Roll
Youri Senden – Men’s Soccer Defense
He was named as the winner of the John Semanik Award. Senden anchored a stellar defense for the team. In doing so Senden was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, the first ever Dragon to be named. The defenseman also made All-CAA first team and was a Philadelphia Soccer Six All Star. The individual contributions of a defenseman are not seen in the stat sheet. Those efforts are seen in the team stats. Drexel allowed 1.06 goals per game, 9.6 shots on goal, and shut out the opposition six times. The Dragons gave up 17 goals during the season. Senden scored a goal on his only shot of the year, the winning goal in a 3 – 0 victory over NJIT. He started in all 16 games.
Note: The Mary and John Semanik Award goes to the top female and male student-athletes who best exemplify the scholarship and athletic ideals of the former Directors of Athletics, Mr. & Mrs. Semanik.
Valentine Van Hellemont – Field Hockey Forward
The forward / midfielder is the CAA Rookie of the Year, the second Dragon to win this award. Tess Bernheimer won the award in 2016. She did so by scoring a team-leading 12 goals, and was second on the team in points with 28. Van Hellemont was named to the All-CAA First Team and All-Rookie Team.
Eline Di Leva – Field Hockey Forward
The forward made conference first team for the fourth consecutive season. Di Leva scored 8 goals and assisted 8 times for 24 points. Four of her game-winning goals, a team-high, came against CAA opponents.
Antonio Illuminato – Men’s Soccer Midfielder
The midfielder from Italy garnered two honors being named as a Philadelphia Soccer Six All-Star, a unanimous selection. He is also a member of the All-CAA First Team. Illuminato scored 5 goals and totaled 8 assists for a team-leading 18 points. His 8 assists are the most by a Drexel player since 2002.
Amari Williams – Men’s Basketball Forward
The forward was a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Award. He is a three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Williams led the CAA in blocked shots for the past three years. In this past season he swatted 57 shots (1.8 per game). He rebounded the basketball 249 times (7.8 per game) fifth in conference. His 289 points led the team in scoring. Williams was named to the league First Team.
Nico Serna – Men’s Squash
Serna was awarded the Men’s Mid-Atlantic Squash Conference Player of the Year honor. He is the first Dragon in Drexel Squash history to win the award. He is a CSA Second Team All-American.
Chelsea Gravereaux – Women’s Swimming Free Fly Sprints
The Fly and Freestyle sprint swimmer is the CAA Swimmer of the Year, the second Dragon woman to be named. Gravereaux was the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the CAA Championships, the fourth woman swimmer to earn this honor. She won Gold in the 50 Free, 100 Free and 200 Free. She set the program record in the 100 Free at :48.52. Her winning time in the 200 Free was 1:47.22. In the 50 Free Gravereaux set a school record with a time of :22.29. Gravereaux won Bronze in the 200 Free Relay.
Jakub Kwasny – Men’s Swimming Free Fly Sprints
Kwasny earned 6 medals at the CAA Championship Meet. In winning the 100 Fly he set the conference and school record covering the distance in :45.61. The sprint swimmer also won the 200 Fly in 1:43.77 in a program record time. He won Silver in three events: 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay, and 400 Free Relay. Kwasny earned Bronze in the 400 Free. In the Medley Relays the team set a new school record in the 200 (1:25.25) and the 400 at 3:09.37.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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