MADISON, N.J. (Sept. 6, 2015) – With a 4-1 victory over College of Staten Island on Sunday, the Drew University men's soccer team won the 32^nd Annual Fall Festival Tournament for the second year in a row.
 
The tournament triumph came by way of goal differential, as the Rangers went 2-0 with a plus-five difference between goals for and goals against. The Rangers start the season 3-0 for the first time since 2011 when they began the campaign with six straight wins. The College of New Jersey also went 2-0 with a plus-four.
 
Junior midfielder Dylan Hammer, with five points in the win, earned the offensive Most Valuable Player award. The defensive side of the award was given to junior goalkeeper John Marques. Marques allowed just the one goal over the weekend and made 12 saves.
 
Hammer netted the tournament-clinching score in the 55^th minute when a series of quick touches found him in space with only the keeper to beat. The Dolphin defenders tried desperately yet fruitlessly to steal the ball from the Rangers as they crept into the box with straight line passes. Hammer wound up with it, created his own space and scored his second goal of the day. The 4-1 lead would hold.
 
The Dolphins, in the 13^th minute opened with a flurry of shots that the Ranger defense batted away from the net. After they expended several defensive troops, Marques did the job for himself. Marques got low and used his chest to deny the Dolphins from a sharp angle.
 
The Dolphins first trip into the zone turned out unsuccessful and the Rangers turned it up field. After making noise in close, they earned a free kick from about 25 yards out. Senior defender Daniel Giraldo hooked one that hugged the left post and sped past the flailing keeper. Drew led 1-0 in the 14^th minute.
 
 
Just three minutes later the Dolphins tied it up, but the 1-1 score wouldn't last long. Hammer used five touches to evade a charging defender, and after creating space beat the goalie to the right with the outside of his right foot. The score put the Rangers on top 2-1 with 28 minutes to play in the half.
 
Drew was relentless and sought out insurance. Hammer's goal was his first on the season and junior forward Cole Leckburg earned his just three minutes later. Hammer was in on this one as well as he danced past a Dolphin and tapped one that set Leckburg up. He wound up and finished Drew's third goal of the game with finesse.
 
The victory takes the Rangers out of Fall Fest and into the Battle of Madison Avenue with FDU-Florham on the road on Wednesday, Sept. 9^th at 7:00 p.m.