Lone Goal Stands Up For Rangers

MADISON, N.J. - The Drew men's soccer team picked up a big non-conference victory with a 1-0 win over regionally ranked Eastern at Ranger Stadium.  Alex Degernes (left) scored the winner at the stroke of half time with a header off Bobby Sprengel's nice feed.  The Ranger defense held the Eagles (10-5-1) to just four shots in the game as it held out for the entire second period.  Drew (9-7) has just a Landmark Conference contest at Moravian left on its regular season docket.

Drew started brightly as Andres Callejas nearly got Jesse Puzio free with a through ball, but Eastern's Noah Bartelt got to it just in time in the 12th minute.  Eastern's first chance came just a minute later as Ryan Castle's free kick was headed on by Alex Clark to Mike Leitzel.  Leitzel's header caromed off the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

In the 15th minute, Dan Bonder nearly pulled off an incredible individual effort as he went coast-to-coast after robbing an Eastern attacker.  From the 18, Bonder ripped a shot, but it sailed high and wide of the target.

Drew had another chance just three minutes later as Dante LaPenta's long throw found the head of Jesse Puzio.  Puzio flicked on, but Greg Zizik's header was an easy save for Bartelt.
The game continued at a fast, physical pace for much of the first half before a well worked goal by the Rangers opened the books.  Marc Chiarello picked out the head of Jim Rossi on a long ball that Rossi won to Degernes just over half field.  The junior sent a lovely through ball for Bobby Sprengel to chase down.  Sprengel collected inside box near the end line and lofted a cross to the back post.  Degernes, generously listed at 5'7", headed home calmly inside the far post and easily past the keeper for the 1-0 halftime lead.

The second half saw fewer chances, but an even higher tempo of play.  The Ranger defense held and gave up only three shots in the second half.  Dan Bonder had another fine performance at right back and Chiarello, LaPenta in the back and Glenn Fitzgerald shielding them in midfield held the Eagles to just four in the game.  Eastern averages 16 shots and two goals over the course of the season, but not today.

Though it is not a real stat, the Rangers must be high on the charts in posts and bars hit.  Sometimes it seems like they are more interested in playing Crossbar Challenge than actually scoring and tonight was no different.  Jesse Puzio, who has now strung together a number of strong games up top, got onto the end of Matthew Greenberg's through ball in the 65th.  He got off a sliding shot just under the new Eastern keeper, Michael Dorsch, that rolled 10 yards before cruelly dinking off the post and out.  In the 78th, Puzio again came close as he ripped high over the bar on a break.  In the 83rd, Callejas was denied a deserved goal as he cracked hard off the bar from 18 yards out. 

In the end, the lone goal stood as Drew picked up its second straight win. 

The Rangers return to action on Saturday afternoon at Moravian.