MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University men's soccer team raced out to a 4-0 lead and defeated Landmark Conference newcomer Wilkes University 5-1 Tuesday evening in Ranger Stadium.
 
The two sides were facing off as conference opponents for the first time since 2006, when they competed together in the MAC Freedom Conference before Drew became a founding member of the Landmark Conference in 2007.
 
Junior Kevin Kiernan paced the Rangers (6-3-2, 2-1 LC) with one goal and two assists while senior Christian Tyson notched one goal and one helper. Sophomore Gabe Di Pierro and freshmen Kevin Martinez and Nick Venziale also scored once apiece for Drew, which has now scored five goals in two of its last three games.
 
It was also the Rangers highest offensive output in a Landmark Conference match since a 7-0 win at Juniata College on Oct. 20, 2018.
 
Drew also held the Colonels (3-3-4, 1-1-1 LC) to just two shots on goal and the Rangers have yielded only five SOG over their last two outings.
 
Freshman Jacob Avni collected one save for Drew while Nick Kinzler made two stops for the Colonels.
 
The Rangers scored twice in the opening half, with Di Pierro kicking off the scoring off an assist from Kiernan in the 15th minute. Martinez followed up in the 34th minute, taking on a long pass from sophomore Jonathan Gutierrez before drilling in his first collegiate goal to make it a 2-0 game at the half.
 
Tyson and Kiernan settled any doubt for the Rangers in the second stanza. Tyson accepted a long pass from Kiernan and sent home his team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 57th minute. The two reversed roles in the 62nd minute, when Kiernan hauled in a cross from Tyson and connected for his fourth tally of the year.
 
The Colonels broke up the shutout in the 80th minute before Venziale converted a penalty kick for his first collegiate goal in the 87th minute.
 
The Rangers resume Landmark Conference play on Saturday, when they visit Catholic University at 1 p.m.