Second-Half Shutout Lifts Rangers

Box Score
MADISON, N.J. (April 13, 2011) – After falling behind in the first half, the Ranger defense pitched a second-half shutout enabling Drew (6-4) to defeat Swarthmore, 9-5 this evening. Sophomore Scott Humphreys (Newark, Del/Sanford School) netted four goals including three in the final 30 minutes pace the Ranger offense.

Swarthmore (3-9) took control of the game early with the game's first three goals. Garnet attackman Max Hubbard tallied the first two scores on the day in the first 2:14 of play. Zach Belden gave Swarthmore their largest lead of the game, 3-0,  with a goal at the 10:44 mark in the first period.

Humphreys and Nicholas Della Fera (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) put the Rangers on the scoreboard  late in the first period but the Garnet scored their final goal of the frame making the score 4-2 with just 29 ticks on the clock.

Ranger goalkeeper and reigning Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Charlie DeSocio (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia), did his part in the second period to help keep the Rangers in the ball game. The junior made five of his 11 saves in the second period allowing the final goal of the game for Swarthmore with 7:33 remaining in the half.

The Rangers went into the second half of play only trailing 5-4 thanks to second quarter goals by Eric Tripp (Glen Cove, N.Y./Glen Cove) and Sean McGowan (Milltown, N.J./St. Joseph's).

Humphreys notched the game at five just 41 seconds into the third quarter and scored the go-ahead goal with 5:39 to play in the period. The Rangers scored the last six goals of the game, capped off by Humphreys' career-high fourth goal with 5:18 left in the game.

Tripp, who has registered two or more points in his last three games, finished the game with a goal and two assists

The Rangers will continue Landmark Conference play on Saturday when they travel to Merchant Marine on Saturday. The game time has been shifted to 2:00 PM and moved off USMMA's campus to Centre Island State Park in Bayville, N.Y.