MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University men's soccer team netted a pair of quick first-half goals and the Rangers won their second straight Landmark Conference match, topping Wilkes University 2-1 in Ranger Stadium Tuesday evening.
Wilkes struck first, but the Rangers scored twice in a 28-second span late in the half and blanked the Colonels the rest of the way.
Sophomore
Anthony Ruggiero came off the bench to record his first career, then assisted on the game-winner from freshman
Matt Munoz.
Junior
Donovan Friedhoff gathered four saves for the Rangers (8-3-2, 2-2-1 LC) while Matthew Conti stopped six shots for Wilkes (1-9-4, 0-3-2 LC).
The Colonels got on the scoreboard in the ninth minute on a rebound from Giovanni Mazzola. Junior
Kevin Martinez nearly pulled the Rangers even in the 20th minute, but missed just high on a chip in front following a cross from classmate
Nate Keller.
The Rangers found the equalizer in the 37th, when senior
James Cahill found a cutting
Nick Venziale inside the box. Venziale outworked several defenders for the ball and drilled a point-blank shot off the goalie. Ruggiero followed up with a quick rebound to make it a 1-1 game.
Cahill initiated Drew's second goal as well, stepping in front of a Wilkes pass at midfield and sending it forward to a Ruggiero in open space. Ruggiero sent a perfect pass down the left flank to a streaking Munoz, who found himself with a 1-on-1 with the keeper. Munoz ripped a shot into the right side of the net for his second goal of the season and his first career game-winner.
The Rangers outshot the Colonels 10-5 in each half. Friedhoff made three of his stops in the first half while Conti turned aside four shots in the second half.
Drew continues its season on Saturday, when it visits No. 23-ranked Catholic University at 3:30 p.m. in Landmark Conference action.