Drew Defense Shuts Down Cardinals

MADISON, N.J. (April 10, 2010) – The Rangers limited the powerful Catholic offense and defeated the Cardinals, 8-4 in Ranger Stadium today. Goalkeepers Brad Mendelson (Owings Mills, Md./The Park School) and Charles DeSocio (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) combined for 21 saves and held the Cardinals to their lowest goal output of the season.

Drew (6-3, 3-0 Landmark) dominated offensively in the first half of play. Jon Bucknam (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) got the Rangers on the scoreboard first when Mike Sayers (Roseland, N.J./West Essex) found him in front of the net just 1:14 into the game for the 1-0 advantage.

Catholic (7-2, 1-1 Landmark) would answer just under two minutes remaining in the first period with a goal from Jimmy Bitonti. Drew would get a key goal with :12 seconds remaining in the period by the team's leading goal scorer, Greg Reading (Pennington, N.J./Hopewell Valley), to hold a one-goal  lead at the end of the quarter.

The Rangers would rattle off five unanswered goals to open up a 7-1 lead early in the third period. Catholic finally ended their scoring drought midway through the third period but DeSocio was denying everything that was coming at him. The Cardinals outshot the Rangers 20-8 in the second half but could not find the back of the net. DeSocio turned back 16 shots to close it out.

Redding had his second straight hat trick and added an assist to lead the Ranger offense. Bucknam wasn't far behind as he netted two goals and dished an assist to up his season point total to 29.

The Rangers will head south on Wednesday to take on Swarthmore College on Wednesday at 7:00