Rangers Open NCAA Tournament Against Franklin & Marshall

MADISON, N.J. – After winning the Landmark Conference Tournament for the first time since 2007, the 12^th-ranked Drew University men's soccer team (19-0-1) will open the NCAA Tournament against Franklin & Marshall (11-5-2) at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be played at the Shangraw Athletic Complex in Williamsport, Pa., and the winner advances to face either No. 8 Lycoming (18-2-0) or Lehman (13-4-1) in the second round at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Drew, which is making its first NCAA appearance since 2008, enters the NCAA Tournament as one three remaining unbeaten teams nationally. The Rangers are currently on a 16-game winning streak since a 0-0 draw with Elmhurst on Sept. 9. Drew averages 3.55 goals per game, fourth-best in the nation, and boasts a goal differential of +59 on the season.

Aidan Cserhat (Taos, N.M.) was named both Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the Landmark Conference after tallying 20 goals, which is tied fourth-most nationally, in 20 games this season. He was also selected MVP of the Landmark Tournament after scoring the first two goals in the Rangers' 3-1 victory over Elizabethtown.

A total of six Rangers earned First Team All-Landmark honors, with Niko Cserhat (Taos, N.M.) receiving the Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Cserhat brothers were joined on the First Team by Max Correa (Belleville, N.J.), Andy Imoh (Sugar Land, Texas), Eduardo Martinez (McLean, Va.) and Jason Adamo (Roxbury, N.J.). Adamo, the Rangers' goalkeeper, is among the national leaders in wins (19) and shutouts (10).

Franklin & Marshall is in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. The Diplomats, who reached the NCAA quarterfinals last year, earned the first Centennial Conference title in program history with a 1-0 win over Dickinson on Sunday. Franklin & Marshall placed five players on the All-Centennial Team, led by First Team All-Centennial choice Jason Tonelli. Tonelli has scored 11 goals this season, five of which have been game-winners. Christopher Amoruso is 8-1-1 with five shutouts since taking over as the Diplomats' starting goalkeeper.

Lycoming moved up to No. 8 in the national rankings after defeating Messiah 2-1 to win the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. The Warriors have tied their program record for wins this season and are hosting NCAA Tournament games for the second time in three years. Sainclair Tueno leads the team with 10 goals, while Abdullahi Abdi has scored six times. Chris Solecki has started every game in goal and recorded seven shutouts.

Lehman qualified for its second straight NCAA Tournament with a 3-1 victory over John Jay in the CUNYAC championship game. Salh Alzubidi, the CUNYAC Player of the Year, has scored 18 goals this season. He was one of five Lehman players selected First Team All-CUNYAC. Goalkeeper Chris Mulholland didn't allow a goal in regular season conference play and has recorded 10 shutouts overall.

Tickets for this weekend's games are $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, and $2 for children 3-12. Lycoming will also be providing live stats and live video of all three contests.

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