Box Score PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (Oct. 1, 2014) – The Drew University men's soccer team shut out St. Joseph's (L.I.) College, 2-0, in a non-conference road match on Wednesday evening to run its season record to 5-2-4.
 
Senior defender Michael Pezzuti netted his second goal of the season, while sophomore Joe Sollod provided some insurance with his first tally of 2014 against the Eagles (3-9). Meanwhile, the Blue & Green defense helped senior goalkeeper Michael Reyes record his 24^th career shutout, which moves him into fifth place all-time in Drew history in the clean sheet category.
 
"Our defense and goalkeeper remained consistent as they have all season," said head coach Lenny Armuth. "We took advantage of some nice offensive opportunities. We have had a lot of close games this season, so a two-goal win on the road is a great way to go into a string of Landmark Conference games coming up for us."
 
For the second time this season, Pezzuti's goal went down as a game-winner. Classmate and co-captain John Nogiewich contributed the assist by cleaning up a scrum in front of the Eagles' net and executing a quick pass to Pezzuti, who blasted a shot to the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. Drew would test the St. Joe's keeper twice more before halftime, but held the slimmest of margins heading into the break.
 
The beginning of the second half featured offensive opportunities by both sides, with Reyes again shutting down the Eagles' attack with two more saves in the opening four minutes of the second half. The Rangers generated chances of their own with a shot from Daniel Ratyniak getting saved and attempts by Matt Sommer and Robert Hart being defended well by the St. Joe's backline.
 
The Drew defense tightened up during the second half in an attempt to protect the slim 1-0 lead. St. Joe's didn't take a shot from the 52^nd minute until the 81^st. Reyes was called on once more in the 84^th minute to make the save to set up Sollod's insurance goal. Reyes finished the contest with five saves for his seventh shutout of the year.
 
Despite a few shots by the Eagles, Sollod made sure the home club had no shot at winning the game with an important insurance goal in the 87^th minute, assisted by freshman Benjamin Audi, his second helper of the season.
 
"Those are two guys who never stop working hard on the field," Armuth said. "They are two of the fastest guys in the game and they worked together to give us some room for comfort late in the game. It helped take some of the pressure of the defense and Reyes, who did their fair share to help us win tonight."
 
The Rangers head into a three-game Landmark Conference stint with a head of steam after winning two straight by way of the shutout. Drew returns to Ranger Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1:00 p.m. to take on Susquehanna University before league matches with The University of Scranton and The Catholic University of America. A home date with Amherst College, currently ranked No. 15 in the national poll, looms on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7:00 p.m.