Box Score MADISON, N.J. (Nov. 12, 2014) – The second-seeded Drew University men's soccer team answered a late wakeup call to overcome a deficit and defeat No. 7 Alfred University, 3-1, on Wednesday evening in the ECAC Division III Metro/Upstate Championships quarterfinals at Ranger Stadium.
 
After the Saxons (9-8-3) took the contest's first lead, sophomore Dylan Hammer tied it up, followed by two goals from senior John Nogiewich to clinch the playoff victory. The Rangers (10-5-6) advance to the semifinals to take on No. 3 Richard Stockton. The semifinal and championship rounds will be hosted by No. 1 Rutgers-Camden, which will face the winner of No. 4 New York University and No. 5 William Paterson University.
 
"There was a big difference in the second half," said head coach Lenny Armuth, who now sits just one win away from No. 300 of his career. "We had to lay into them a little bit at halftime, but it seemed to click. If we want to continue in this tournament, we'll have to put a whole 90 minutes together similar to the last 45 from tonight's game."
 
Despite holding an edge in shots and possession in the first half, the Rangers conceded the first goal in the 18^th minute. A fast-paced cross found the boot of Alfred's Omar Mohamed, who struck a one-time volley into the top right corner of the Drew goal for the 1-0 lead.
 
Drew threatened to equalize in the 43^rd minute when senior defender Michael Pezzuti ripped a shot from 30 yards out with an eye for goal, but the Alfred goalkeeper dove and deflected the ball out of bounds for a corner kick. The Saxons escaped further danger and took the one-goal advantage into the halftime break.
 
The Ranger offense awoke in the 58^th minute when a bouncing cross from sophomore Joe Sollod found its way to the Alfred goalmouth, where Hammer was waiting to slip the ball under the Saxon's goalkeeper to knot the score at 1-1. The tally was the third of the season for Hammer, who was named to the Landmark All-Conference Second Team on Tuesday.
 
With momentum barreling toward Drew's attack, the Rangers got the eventual game-winner from Nogiewich in the 70^th minute. The senior captains struck a chopping shots toward net while the Saxons' goalie was attempting to recover from a previous scrum. The slow-roller snuck past the goal line for Nogiewich's fifth goal of the year and the 2-1 Ranger advantage. Nogiewich would net his sixth goal of 2014 in the 87^th minute on a penalty shot after an Alfred handball in the box.
 
Drew ended up outshooting its ECAC quarterfinal opponent 18-7, while placing 10 of those shots on goal and keeping an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Michael Reyes made four saves for his 29^th career win, which is now tied for sixth in the Drew record books.