Rangers Captures Win In Conference Opener

MADISON, N.J. - The Drew men's soccer team completed the Landmark Sunday sweep as they defeated the Goucher Gophers, 3-0, at Ranger Stadium on Sunday.  Bobby Sprengel scored one goal and set up the other as Drew won their inaugural LC contest.  The Rangers improve to 5-2, 1-0 in Landmark play while the Gophers fall to 3-5, 0-1 in the conference.

Drew had the game's first chance five minutes in after Matt Bonder put a ball in the box for Greg Zizik.  Zizik played off his chest on to his left, but his shot was saved well by Goucher keeper Justin Holbrook.  Jesse Puzio had another good chance in the seventh as Zizik played provider this time.  The sophomore's knock down found Puzio alone in the middle, but a great tackle by Nat Keller prevented Puzio from getting a shot off. 

Jeff Rogers had his first test of the day in the 12th minute with the Gophers turning a free kick into a header from Nat Keller, but Rogers was up to the task.  Zizik had a nice take a moment later, but his wheeling right footed drive was easily saved by Holbrook.

The first great Gopher chance came in 15th as Galen Guindon headed to the far post on a corner.  Vincent Costa was in the right spot to clear off the line for the Rangers. 

Bobby Sprengel became the answer to a trivia question with four minutes left in the half as he scored the first ever Landmark Conference goal for the Rangers.  Jim Rossi put in a perfect cross for Sprengel to head home for his fourth goal of the season.  The teams went into the break at 1-0 to the home side.

Drew came out in the second half looking for an insurance goal.  Dante LaPenta charged forward in the 55th and obliged the crowd shouting for him to shoot, but fired high of the Goucher goal.  The Rangers' did get their second just a minute later thanks to a great knock down by Bobby Sprengel on a cross.  The sophomore headed down into Zizik's inside run.  Zizik hammered it first time past the helpless Goucher keeper. 

The Rangers nearly had a third in the 58th thanks to some more good play by Sprengel.  The sophomore played a dummy to himself on Andres Callejas' right sided pass.  Have won himself a few yards he crossed back into the box, but Anthony Pisani's shot screwed wide of the post. 

The Gophers best chance of the contest came in the 74th minute as a great cross-field pass from Evan Rosse set Julien Greco alone on a break.  With a defender closing him down, Greco fired from 18 yards out high over the bar.  Greco had another chance five minutes later, but fired at Rogers who had cut off the angle.

The Rangers allowed just eight shots all game, two on goal, as they again dominated the midfield.  Just as he did in last Saturday's match against Misercordia, senior captain Glenn Fitzgerald had a great game closing down most threats in the middle of the park. 

Drew's Shao Shroff capped the day with a third thanks to some good running and a nice pass from Andres Callejas.  Callejas took a ball down the right hand side and cut in to lose his defender; his chipped cross was a sitter for Shroff who thumped it home with just three seconds remaining.

In combination with the women's team's win 5-0 victory, Drew won both games on Landmark Sunday to celebrate the day in style.  The Rangers play again tomorrow at 4:00 pm, a change from the original 7:30 starting time, at Ramapo.