Drew Scores In Each Half To Top Misericordia

MADISON, N.J. - An early goal and a late one secured a  2-0 win for the Drew men's soccer team over Misericordia University at Ranger Stadium on Saturday afternoon.  Matt Bonder scored the winner just five minutes into the game and after controlling the game Drew finally got its second through Greg Zizik (left) in the 85th.  The win improves the Rangers' mark to 4-2 while the Cougars fall to 3-3. 

A series of attacks by the Rangers resulted in their first goal.  Greg Zizik made a run down the right side, but his short angled shot was blocked.  After the Rangers worked the ball back to the left, Adrian Kawuba turned his defender and whipped in a low hard cross that a Cougar defender could only touch away from his goal.  Matt Bonder was first to the loose ball and cracked home from seven yards out for his first goal of the season.

The Rangers controlled most of the first half, pushing forward, but lacking the final ball.  Only a nice overhead attempt by Tyler Mensch showed the Cougars intent on the Drew goal.  Around the eight minute mark, Bobby Sprengel turned Will Brackett's nice cross on goal, but Andrew Loyd made the save.  With just over two minutes left, Brackett fired wide of the upper 90 after Matt Greenberg's nice pass.  The half ended at 1-0 to the Rangers. 

Drew continued to limit the Misericordia opportunities by commanding the midfield.  In particular, Drew did a good job in containing Max Campbell, the Cougars' top scorer and preventing the attackers from gaining space in the Ranger half.  Bobby Sprengel created the Rangers next chance with sheer work.  After chasing a ball down to the endline, he rounded his defender tapped the ball back into play, fell down, got up and sent a teasing cross that was just a bit too far for Vincent Costa to handle. 

Greg Zizik got onto the end of Kawuba cross, but headed down at the keeper in the 65th minute.  Zizik got another chance in the 72nd as he got to the end of pass in the area and freed himself after a dribble, but the Loyd made a nice save to tip the shot wide of the post.  In the 79th, Costa played a short corner to Glenn Fitzgerald whose far post cross was headed wide by Jesse Puzio.  A minute later it was Zizik heading high off a corner as Drew looked desperately for the second goal. 

The Rangers finally got it thanks to an inch perfect lobbed pass by Costa on the right side into Zizik's run through the middle.  The sophomore finished clean into the corner for the insurance goal.