MADISON, N.J. – Junior Alexa Krause scored a pair of goals and the Drew University women's soccer team captured a monumental 3-2 victory over the University of Scranton in a battle between the top two teams in the Landmark Conference standings Tuesday evening in Ranger Stadium.
 
With the win, the Rangers (10-5-1, 5-1-1 LC) earned their first victory over the Royals, the three-time defending Landmark Conference champions, since a 2-0 win in 2009.  
 
Drew's victory also snapped Scranton's 27-match unbeaten streak (26-0-1) versus Landmark Conference opponents.
 
The game marked a rematch of last year's Landmark Conference championship match that the Royals won 1-0 on a 90th-minute goal.
 
The Rangers now find themselves just two points behind Scranton for first place in the conference standings with two conference games remaining.
 
Scranton (9-3-3, 6-1 LC) took an early lead, when Niamh Healy headed in a goal on a corner kick from Mary Haggerty. But the Rangers would blank the Royals over the next 87 minutes, as freshman Sarah Crowley made five saves to keep Scranton off the scoreboard while Drew would make a run offensively.
 
Krause nearly pulled the Rangers even in the eighth minute, when her blast from the top of the 18 slammed off the right post. However, the Blue and Green would cash in just five minutes later.
 
Following a Drew corner kick, senior Rebecca Racine lobbed a shot that was on its way into an open net but was headed away by a defender. The ball eventually found its way out to fifth-year Emma Shatel, who sent a long pass into the box where it was knocked aside but right to junior Isabella Grof-Tisza, who quickly lofted a shot over the keeper and into the right side of the net for her second goal of the season, making it a 1-1 game.
 
Krause made a great run to put the Rangers in front to stay in the 30th minute. She came up with a deflected pass near midfield, chipped it forward into open space, and beat two defenders to the ball, leading to a 1-on-1 with the keeper. She dribbled to the left post and slipped a shot past Scranton goalie Nikki Olsen, who had come out to meet her.
 
Drew finished with a 6-4 shot advantage in the opening half and led 2-1 at the intermission.
 
Krause struck again in the 58th minute. Racine stole a pass in the defensive third, then wheeled around and sent a long pass down the right sideline, where Krause would dazzle the crowd with another splendid sequence. Krause outraced a defender to the ball, dribbled to the corner, then cut toward the goal. She weaved through three defenders before pulling up at the near post, where she rifled a left-footer off a defender and into the net for her 11th goal of the season that made it a 3-1 game.
 
Scranton would not go quietly, however, and Alaina McLaughlin scored on a rebound with 54 seconds left. However, the Royals were unable to get off a shot the rest of the way.
 
Drew finished with a 13-9 shot advantage while the Royals held an 8-4 edge in corner kicks.
 
The Rangers continue their Landmark Conference schedule on Saturday, when they visit conference newcomer Lycoming College at 3:30 p.m.