Men's Soccer Winning Streak at Four After 2-0 Victory Over Rutgers

Tuesday, September 24

Vidas Field

7:00

Drexel University

4-2-1

Rutgers

3-4-1

Rutgers

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Soccer Winning Streak at Four After 2-0 Victory Over Rutgers

9/24/2013 9:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel men's soccer team has found its stride heading into the heart of its schedule, as the Dragons won a fourth-straight game on Tuesday evening, defeating Rutgers 2-0. Nathan Page scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute and Ken Tribbett followed with insurance in the 69th to give the Dragons (4-2-1) their first victory over the Scarlet Knights since November 26, 1980.

Tyler Afflerbach was called upon to make just two saves as the defense helped keep him free of significant danger for most of the night. He did make one impressive stop with the game still scoreless in the first half, reaching down and lunging to his right to stop a header. Rutgers (3-4-1) managed just one other truly threatening chance, a set piece that deflected off the crossbar and over the goal midway through the first half. Afflerbach is now 4-0-0 with a 0.25 goals against average for his career.

Senior midfielder Nathan Page got Drexel on the board early in the second half, cleaning up a mistake by Rutgers goalkeeper David Greczek. Senior forward Mark Donohue brought the ball into the box, attacking from Greczek's right. He fired a bullet that Greczek slid to stop, but could not control. The ball trickled to the right side where Page, who got behind a defense that hesitated after Donohue's shot, got a toe on it and beat Greczek to the far post. It was the 21st goal of Page's career and gave him 47 total points.

Just over 15 minutes later, the Dragons got some insurance. Again it was a ball that Greczek had a chance to stop but could not. This time, freshman midfielder Adam Arana took the ball in the box to the keeper's left. His low scorcer got through Greczek's legs, but the keeper was able to get enough of it to slow it down. The ball's trajectory would still have led it to the back of the net if it had been untouched, but with the Rutgers defense converging, senior midfielder Ken Tribbett raced in and tipped it forward and over the goal line.

The Dragons controlled play early and late, and withstood a Rutgers attack in the latter stages of the first half. Other than the two goal-scoring plays, however, the Scarlet Knights were able to do a good job keeping the Dragons from finishing plays and taking full-strength shots on goal. The Dragons had five shots on goal to Rutgers' two, while outshooting the Scarlet Knights overall 13-11.

Drexel will conclude its three-game homestand with its Colonial Athletic Association opener on Saturday afternoon when the Dragons host William & Mary at 4:00 p.m.