JERSEY CITY, NJ…Senior forward Derek Swanner (Monroe Township, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) scored what proved to be game-winner with 27:22 remaining to break up a scoreless affair, and later added an assist on an insurance goal as nationally No. 18 ranked Drew University blanked Johnson and Wales University (RI), 3-0, in first round action of the 2005 New Jersey City University/adidas® Liberty Cup at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
Drew remains unbeaten on the season at 3-0-0, while Johnson and Wales, which opened 2-0-0, falls to 2-2-0 with its second straight defeat. Drew outshot the Wildcats, 19-10, after leading 9-5 during a scoreless first half. Drew had a 10-3 margin on corner kicks.
Senior goalkeeper Dan Biggers (Boulder, CO/Boulder) made four saves to record his second straight shutout for the Rangers.
At 62:38, Swanner put the Rangers on the board with his third goal of the season, aiming a header inside the left post off a cross by senior forward Tyler Brisk (Closter, NJ/Northern Valley-Demarest) from the left endline.
Eight minutes later, senior defender Craig Nimick (Freehold, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) increased the advantage to 2-0 at 70:52, as he blasted in an angled shot from the right wing into the left corner, off a feed from freshman forward Alex Degernes (Charlotte, NC/Providence Day). It was his first goal of the year.
Drew capped the scoring three minutes later as freshman defender Shawn Tekelani (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) received a feed from Swanner and rifled in a shot from the right wing at 73:58, for his first score of the season.
Senior keeper Stephane Ost (Maynard, MA/Arlington) stopped four shots for JWU in defeat.
Drew will meet #6 ranked Stevens Institute of Technology in day two action of the Liberty Cup on Sunday, September 11 at 2:30 pm. The Ducks dropped a 1-0 decision to host NJCU in Saturday’s earlier game. JWU meets NJCU in Sunday’s opener at 12pm.
If NJCU and Drew both win on Sunday, the two schools, which will not meet in the tournament, will have the championship decided by a variety of predetermined tiebreakers, including goal differential. Drew currently has a +3 margin, versus +1 for NJCU. The host Gothic Knights are the defending Cup champions.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
