MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University men's soccer team opened its 2026 season by playing the United States Merchant Marine Academy to a 0-0 tie Thursday evening in non-conference action at a muggy Ranger Stadium.
The Rangers outshot the Mariners 16-10 and held an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal.
Senior
Donovan Friedhoff collected three saves, including a clutch stop late in the match, to pick up the shutout for Drew while James Castoro turned aside eight shots for Merchant Marine (1-0-1).
The two sides were playing for the first time since 2015, the final year the Mariners competed as a member of the Landmark Conference.
The Rangers held a 7-5 edge in shots in the opening half before turning up the heat in the second period, when sophomore
Matt Munoz placed three shots on frame.
In the 71st minute, the Rangers nearly broke through when senior
Andrew Dunne sent in a long free kick that was flicked toward the goal by Munoz, but Castoro made a diving save. Then in the 83rd minute, Munoz outraced a defender and found himself one-on-one with the keeper, but his blast from the right side was deflected up and over the crossbar.
Friedhoff's last two saves came in the final six minutes, including a game-saving, smothering stop on a 1-v-1 from the left post in the 85th minute.
Drew returns to action on Sunday, when it hosts Manhattanville University at 2 p.m. in another non-conference affair.
