Hard work paid off as Drew women's soccer secured a Landmark Conference win in a 2-0 decision over the Scranton Royals at Ranger Stadium.
Emily Weida had a hand in both goals, setting up
Alyssa Goodman for the winner before netting herself, and Drew's defense made those tallies stand up in the face of heavy pressure from the Royals. The win locks Drew (5-6-1, 2-1) in a tie with Susquehanna for third place while the Royals fall to 9-3-1, 0-2 in the Landmark.
Drew got off to a flying start. In the 9th minute of play, the Rangers took a 1-0 lead through hard work from Emily Weida and a poised finish from Alyssa Goodman. Pressure from Chelsea LeDuc and Goodman forced the Royal left back into a dangerous back pass which Weida intercepted thirty yards out. By the time she ran it down at the endline Goodman had moved into a dangerous space by the penalty area. Goodman chested down her first touch before hammering her second into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
Weida was a live wire in the first half, getting the Rangers' second chance as well. In the 12th minute, Weida again took it down well to get a step behind her defender, but could only rip at the keeper as Byrne smothered the shot.
The Royals best chance came in the in the 21st minute of play. The Royals got behind the Rangers defense for one of the few times in the half, but Allison McCord and Kim Jaikissoon came up big. Sydney Parker looked sure to score, but McCord got back to clear off the line. The clearance fell to Emily MacPhee, but by this time Jaikissoon
Weida's hard work earned the Rangers' second as well. The sophomore harassed a back pass to the central defender, stripping the ball and getting a step behind the Royal. The Scranton keeper came off her line well to make the first save, but Weida staye on her feet to get to the rebound a step ahead. With the keeper out of the goal, she was able to slid it just inside the post for the 2-0 lead.
The Rangers survived some more chaos in the box in the second half. Early on in the second period, the Royals launched a long ball into the box that Tina Cognetti got to first. Cognetti's shot was bravely blocked by Allison McCord with the rebound falling out to Katie Cordier on the left side of the goal. Cordier's shot was saved point blank by Jaikissoon.
The Rangers continued to soak up the pressure throughout the second half. Off a corner in the 64th, Emily Boyce volleyed high off a corner kick. Kimberly Jaikissoon completed her best game of the season by making two more saves before the end of the half.
The Rangers host New Paltz at Ranger Stadium on Thursday night before making trips out to Juniata and Catholic in a pair of crucial Landmark Conference games.
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Soccer Game Summary (Final)
Drew University Athletics
Scranton Royals vs Drew Rangers (Oct 10, 2009 at Madison, NJ)
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Scranton Royals (9-3-1, 0-2 LC) vs. Drew Rangers (5-6-1, 2-1 LC)
Date: Oct 10, 2009 Attendance: 237
Weather: cold, overcast, windy
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Scranton Royals..... 0 0 - 0
Drew Rangers........ 2 0 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 8:32 DREW Alyssa Goodman (Emily Weida)
2. 24:10 DREW Emily Weida (unassisted)
Shots: Scranton Royals 14, Drew Rangers 7
Saves: Scranton Royals 4 (Caitlin Byrne 4), Drew Rangers 6 (Kimberly
Jaikisson 5; tm 1)
