MADISON, N.J. – Senior
Donovan Friedhoff made a save in the closing seconds of the game and the Drew University men's soccer team upset No. 10-ranked and previously-undefeated Catholic University 1-0 in a big Landmark Conference tilt Saturday afternoon in a blustery Ranger Stadium.
With the win, Drew's third in a row, the Rangers (8-3-3, 4-2-0 LC) vaulted past Catholic, Moravian, and Juniata and into second place of the Landmark Conference standings with three regular-season games remaining.
The victory was the Rangers first over a nationally-ranked opponent since a 1-0 win over No. 7 Lycoming College in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Division III Championships. It was also Drew's first win over Catholic since a 2-1 victory on Sept. 29, 2018, ending Catholic's 10-game series winning streak.
Friedhoff finished with a season-high seven saves, including six in the second half and good for his seventh shutout of the season.
Drew was the beneficiary of an own goal, as a Cardinal defender knocked in a Drew cross late in the first half.
Catholic finished with slight advantages in shots (13-11) and corner kicks (4-2).
With the clock ticking down to 15 seconds at the end of the game, Catholic goalie Owen Allegro settled a Drew clear at midfield and sent a ball into the box. The Cardinals recovered the 50-50 ball and Ryan Kuegler took a shot from the left side. Catholic's Alessandro Marquez Zeleya attempted to redirect it in front, but Friedhoff made a sliding stop before smothering the loose ball as the horn sounded.
Friedhoff turned in a number of other spectacular saves, including an emphatic, leaping knock-down on a bullet of a shot off the foot of Kuegler in the 88th minute. In addition, he came off his line to knock away a shot from Azaria Tewodros, who had broken free for a 1-on-1 in the 57th minute.
The Rangers nearly struck early in the game, when senior
Caleb Omisore had a header deflect off the right post in the 10th minute. But it remained a scoreless contest until senior
Andrew Dunne's cross was kicked into the net by a Catholic defender in the 37th minute.
Along with Omisore's header off the post, Drew had numerous additional shots that nearly went in, but did not record a shot on goal. Senior
Kevin Martinez attempted four shots to lead all Rangers.
Drew continues its season on Wednesday, when it hosts Landmark Conference foe Elizabethtown College at 7 p.m. in its final regular-season home game of the year.
