MADISON, N.J. (Sept. 19, 2015) – The Drew men's soccer team (6-0-1) opened Landmark Conference action with a 2-1 OT victory over Juniata College (2-4-1), 2-1 this afternoon in Ranger Stadium. The 6-0-1 start to the 2015 season is the Rangers' best start since 2001 when they started 7-0.

With 1:54 left to play in the first overtime period, sophomore forward Benjamin Audi stepped up to the PK circle and buried a shot in the bottom right corner of the goal, following a handball in the box call on a shot fired on net by senior captain Daniel Giraldo. Giraldo collected a previous corner kick that was cleared from the box and fired a ball back into the mix causing the penalty.

At the 10:39 mark of the first half, junior midfielder Joe Sollod dribble down the right wing attacking the Juniata defense and fired in a perfectly crossed ball that was headed into the upper right corner of the goal by Audi. The goal was Audi's fifth of the season and marked the third time this season a Sollod cross was sent into the back of the net by Audi.

The Rangers dominated first half possession firing 11 shots at the Juniata goalkeeper, landing three on net. Drew's defense kept the Eagle offense away from attacking the net allowing just two shots in the first half. Through the three periods of play the Rangers outshot the Eagles 29-7.

For 78 minutes it seemed the Sollod/Audi connection would be enough for the Rangers to squeak out a 1-0 victory. But with just two minutes left in the match Juniata found the back of the net with the equalizer to force the overtime period.

Drew's best opportunity at adding some insurance came with 11 minutes left when freshman Alexi Velazquez fired a shot on net the was kept out by the Eagle goalkeeper, Velazquez collected the carom and again fired on goal, to be turned away again by the keeper.

Junior keeper John Marques made his seventh start of the season in net for the Rangers. Marques played all 98 minutes for Drew surrendering one goal and making
two saves on the day, upping his season total to 27.

Today's contest marks the ninth time that Drew and Juniata have faced each other since both teams joined the Landmark Conference back in 2007. Drew is undefeated with a perfect 9-0 record against the Eagles, outscoring Juniata 19-3 in those nine games.

Drew returns to action on Wednesday, September 23 at 7PM as they travel to Ewing, N.J. with a non-conference clash with in-state rival and nationally ranked TCNJ.