Box Score KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Nov. 5, 2014) – After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer in the Landmark Conference semifinals, the third-seeded Drew University men's soccer team fell 3-1 in a penalty kick shootout at No. 2 The United States Merchant Marine Academy on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Mariners (10-7-2) advance to the Landmark Championship at top-seeded The Catholic University of America on Saturday. The Cardinals advanced in a penalty shootout of their own, prevailing 7-6 over No. 4 Goucher College after double overtime ended with the score tied 1-1 in the other semifinal. It marked the first time in Landmark Conference history that both semifinals went to a penalty kick shootout to decide the championship.
 
Merchant Marine goalkeeper Cory Maier stopped the Rangers' first attempt in the shootout to set the tone for the do-or-die finale to the semifinal matchup. The Mariners followed it up with a goal to take a 1-0 lead. Senior defender Michael Pezzuti buried his attempt to tie it at one, but USMMA had the answer to go back up 2-1.
 
Maier made saves on the next two Rangers attempts and added a third made penalty to win the shootout 3-1 and advance to the final.
 
Similar to their regular season meeting, Drew held an advantage in shots and possession in the first half of play. The Rangers took three dangerous shots within the first nine minutes, including a shot by senior midfielder John Nogiewich that required Maier to sprawl out and make a diving save to keep the young game scoreless.
 
Maier would finish his 110-minute clean sheet with four saves while Drew outshot the Mariners 16-11. Senior goalkeeper Michael Reyes made two saves while also recording a shutout, the 27^th of his career and moving him into a fourth place tie in the Drew record books for career shutouts.
 
Also similar to their regular season meeting, USMMA picked up the intensity in the second half and overtime. The Mariners won the regular season match 2-1 in double overtime at Ranger Stadium on Oct. 22. It appeared as if they were gunning for a repeat performance in regulation by increasing their shot output and offensive pressure in the second half. The Mariners held a 5-2 advantage in shots in the second half.
 
Each team took two shots in the overtime period, but a Drew near defensive blunder in the first overtime almost ended the game. A Mariners cross was deflected by a Ranger defender toward the net, but Reyes was there to make an unconventional save to keep the game going.
 
With three seconds remaining before the game would head to a shootout, USMMA mustered up a shot that sailed just inches above the Drew crossbar. The horn then sounded to send the semifinal into penalty kicks.
 
With a 9-5-6 overall record this season (9-5-5 regular season), the Rangers have submitted a bid into the ECAC Metro Tournament field and will wait on seeding for the postseason tournament on Monday. The first round begins at the home of the higher seeds on Wednesday, Nov. 12.