MADISON, N.J. - Freshman Nate Keller picked an opportune time to score his first collegiate goal, striking in the 36th minute to lift the Drew University men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Juniata College in the Landmark Conference (LC) opener for both teams Sunday afternoon at a wet Ranger Stadium.

Making just his second collegiate appearance, Keller gave the Rangers a victory in their Landmark opener for the first time since 2018 after playing to a tie in their last three conference lid lifters.

Drew (4-2-2, 1-0 LC) dominated possession, outshooting the Eagles 21-4. But Axel Grater kept it close for Juniata (4-2-1 0-1 LC), making 10 saves.

Freshman Jacob Avni turned aside a pair of shots to earn his third shutout of the season for the Rangers, who snapped Juniata's four-game winning streak.

Drew held an 11-2 shot advantage in the opening half and nearly struck in the early going, when junior Kevin Kiernan drilled a shot off the right post in the eighth minute. 

Later in the half, Kiernan found himself with the ball again, taking a quick flick from freshman Owen Edwards before slicing his way through several defenders in the box. He placed a perfect feed to the right side, where Keller sent a one-timer inside the right post for all the offense the Rangers would need.

Avni made both of his saves in the first 45 minutes while Grater collected six of his stops in the period.

Drew kept up in the second half, outshooting the Eagles 10-2, but Grater turned aside all four Ranger shots on goal in the period.

The Rangers return home on Wednesday, when they take on DeSales University in a non-conference tilt starting at 7 p.m.