Drew Claims Men's Soccer Landmark Title

MADISON, N.J. - The first ever Landmark Conference men's soccer champions are the Drew University Rangers.  On the back of an outstanding all around team performance, the Rangers defeated the Scranton Royals, 2-0, at Ranger Stadium to become the inaugural champions.  Greg Zizik's brilliant free kick in the 14th minute proved the game winner and Andres Callejas' chipped tally in the 67th provided the insurance as Head Coach Lenny Armuth won his seventh conference title at Drew.

The game had all the intensity and passion that a championship final demands as both teams came out of the gates hard.  The ball stayed mostly in the midfield for the first quarter hour of the game, but Scranton looked the stronger as the young Ranger squad seemed nervous.  With two seniors, Glenn Fitzgerald and Dante LaPenta in the back, the Ranger D prevented the Royals for any clear cut chances in the early going despite the nervy start by the Green and Blue.

In the 14th minute a pair of sophomores swung the game's momentum in the Rangers favor.  Sharif Elzein won a free kick 25 yards out from goal to the left of the goal with while challenging for a header.  Greg Zizik clearly wanted the chance and stood over the ball while the Royals set up their four man wall to cover the near post.  Scranton's keeper set up a step or two to the far side, but even if positioned on the post he would have had trouble stopping Zizik bending blast from ripping the net in the top right corner.  The goal gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead and settled the Rangers nerves.

Drew took control of the match for the rest of the first half, having the better part of the possession and creating a handful of decent chances.  Andres Callejas sent in a lofted free kick in the 20th that Dan Bonder rose to meet and head down, but traffic in front of the net cleared it away.  Seven minutes later Jesse Puzio headed just wide off LaPenta's free kick.  The Ranger carried the 1-0 advantage into the break during the cold and windy day.

In the second half, it was more of the same as the Ranger back line dominated the Royals attack.  Dan Bonder, LaPenta, Fitzgerald and Marc Chiarello won seemingly every long ball and continually broke up Royal passing lanes.  Part of the reason was a pressing forward defense from the Ranger s strikers and attacking midfielders.  Puzio, Bobby Sprengel, Jim Rossi and Zizik all logged a thousand meters in the Scranton half just harassing the Royal defenders.

The Rangers would have likely opened a larger lead early had it not been for a pair of nice plays by the Royals keeper, Brandon Dombrowski.  In the 59th, Matthew Greenberg finished a nice run with a clever through ball for Zizik, but Dombrowski was quick of his line to collect at Zizik's feet.  Four minutes later, Dombrowski made a great grab to pull Callejas' free kick off of Bonder's head eight yards out.  Just a minute later, Scranton had its best chance to grab the equalizer.  A low crossing free kick by Andrew Wunder slid through the Ranger box dangerously, but Ray Straccia was able only to send it well high of the target.

The Rangers made the Royals pay in the 67th.  Dan Bonder, who again played like an all-conference defender and more, destroyed a Scranton attack with a high speed tackle and slid a left footed ball to Zizik hanging on the touchline.  Zizik's first time ball into the middle was met by Callejas.   Callejas headed on to Puzio, who collected with his back to goal and slid a freeing pass to Callejas streaking past him on the left.  The junior got his much deserved goal with a delicate chip over the advancing Scranton keeper and proceeded in stride to celebrate with the Drew fans going nuts on the sideline.

Armed with a two-nil lead, the Rangers continued to play suffocating defense with midfield play of Will Brackett, Tony Pisani and Callejas in conjunction with the hard working forwards often forcing the Royals to play east-west rather than anything towards the Ranger goal.  In the few times that he was tested, Jeff Rogers handled well in goal for the Rangers.  In the 80th, Adrian Kawuba's effort sailed just wide in the Rangers' quest for a third goal, but it didn't matter.  A jubilant celebration awaited the Green and Blue at the final whistle at right about the spot where Elzein had drawn the foul prior to Zizik's goal.

In a landmark season for Drew soccer, when Lenny Armuth won his 200th game and they entered a new conference, the title serves a just conclusion.  The two captains, LaPenta and Fitzgerald, gratefully accepted the trophy from Athletic Director Connee Zotos and the team pulled on their Landmark Conference Champions T-Shirts as Armuth and his coaches shook hands.  At 12-7, the Rangers await word on a probable ECAC Tournament berth later this weekend.