MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University men's soccer team will compete for the Landmark Conference title when it travels to nation's capital to take on Catholic University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
 
The fifth-seeded Rangers (11-5-3, 4-4-1 LC) punched their ticket to the conference final by winning 5-4 in a penalty-kick shootout at top-seeded and 17th-ranked University of Scranton this past Wednesday after the two sides played to a 1-1 tie in regulation and two overtime periods. Junior Nick Venziale scored the match-clinching PK while junior Andrew Dunne provided the goal in regulation, scoring in the sixth minute. Sophomore Turkcan Curak, senior James Cahill, freshman Lucas Czerniak, and junior Nate Keller also provided PKs while junior Donovan Friedhoff collected eight saves.
 
Drew opened its postseason march with a 2-0 first-round victory at Goucher on Nov. 1. Cahill scored on an early penalty kick while freshman Matt Munoz added a late goal. Friedhoff authored the shutout in goal with five saves.
 
The second-seeded and undefeated Cardinals (12-0-6, 6-0-3 LC) blanked No. 6 seed Lycoming College 3-0 in the other semifinal.
 
Drew is making its fourth appearance in the Landmark Conference championship match; the Rangers also reached the final in 2007, 2017, and 2021. The Blue and Green are seeking their third Landmark title and their first since 2017. They also claimed the inaugural Landmark title in 2007.
 
The Rangers and Cardinals also met in the 2021 Landmark Conference final, with Catholic coming away with a 2-0 victory.
 
When the two sides met earlier this season in Washington, Catholic earned a 3-0 victory on a pair of goals from junior Seth Michalak and one from Holden Woodings. Friedhoff registered seven saves for Drew while junior Owen Allegro stopped one shot for the Cardinals.

Offensively, Drew has averaged 1.47 goals per game, which ranks fourth in the Landmark Conference. The Rangers have received five goals and three assists from junior Ignacio Martinez while Cahill has contributed three goals and four assists. Munoz has poured in four goals while Dunne (three goals, three assists), Curak (two goals, two assists), senior Ryan Fischer (two goals), and senior Jonathan Gutierrez (four assists) have also contributed to a balanced offense.
 
Defensively, Drew has posted a 1.09 goals-against average and has yielded zero or goal in four of their last five games. Friedhoff has received the bulk of the playing time between the pipes, going 7-4-3 with a 0.98 GAA and a .800 save percentage to go with three shutouts.
 
Catholic has won the last two Landmark Conference titles and seven in total. The Cardinals lead the Landmark Conference offensively with 2.00 goals per game and are paced by senior Holden Woodings, who has posted nine goals and one assist. Freshman Carson Shamoo has contributed four goals and five assists while junior Azaria Tewodros (four goals, three assists), Michalak (five goals), and senior Ben Zimmer (two goals, six assists) also pose a threat. On the defensive end, Catholic has shut out its last seven opponents and has registered a 0.50 goals-against average for the season, placing it in a tie for 10th among the Division III leaders. Allegro has gone 11-0-6 with a 0.54 GAA, a .786 save percentage, and six clean sheets.

Ticket prices are $11 for adults, $6 for minors (age 10-17), and free for children under 10 and all Landmark Conference students, faculty, and staff with a valid school ID. Tickets may be purchased online here.