Box Score
CAMDEN, N.J. (Nov. 13, 2016) – Drew University freshman forward
Tyler Kwaak (Hillsborough, NJ/Gill St. Bernard's) scored the only goal of the game with 3:12 remaining in regulation to lift the second-seeded Rangers over top seed Rutgers University-Camden, 1-0, in an ECAC Division III Men's Soccer Championship quarterfinal here Sunday afternoon.
The victory lifts Drew (12-5-3) into the semifinals on Saturday at a site and time to be determined as the Rangers stay alive in their bid to become the first team to capture the title in the new revamped ECAC Division III Men's Soccer Championship tournament. Prior to this season, the ECAC crowned champions in multiple divisions, an honor Drew won in 1975, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2009. The Rangers are 27-14-3 all-time in 24 ECAC tournament appearances.
Rutgers-Camden ends an injury-plagued rebuilding season with a 9-9-4 record and its first ECAC tournament loss since 2001. The Scarlet Raptors, now 12-4 all-time in eight ECAC tournaments, had won their last 12 ECAC games, including titles in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2014.
Rutgers-Camden's Metro/Upstate crowns in 2007 and 2010 both came with 2-1 wins over Drew in the championship game. On Sunday, the Rangers turned the tables to advance into the semifinals.
With the game seemingly headed toward overtime, Drew senior forward
Sebastien Etta-Ashu (Newark, NJ/Bard) set up Kwaak with a pass to the top of the box. The freshman found the left side of the net for his second collegiate goal, both of them game-winning shots.
Drew controlled the first half, out-shooting the host Scarlet Raptors, 8-1, but Rutgers-Camden built more momentum in the second half with a 7-6 edge in shots and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks. Overall, Drew held a 14-8 advantage in shots, while Rutgers-Camden had a 6-2 lead in corner kicks.
Drew freshman goalie
Jason Adamo (Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) made three saves as he earned his second collegiate win, with both of them coming over the weekend in the ECAC tourney, and first shutout. He beat New York University, 3-1, on Saturday in a first-round game, while coming within 32 seconds of his first career shutout a day earlier.
Rutgers-Camden sophomore keeper
James Brett (Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra), who was the New Jersey Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year this season, notched eight saves. Brett ended the season with six shutouts (tied for seventh on the single-season program list), 341 shots faced (fourth) and 2,029:38 minutes played in goal (sixth). Halfway through his career, he ranks seventh on the career list for goalie minutes (4,082:47) and second in shots faced (668).
The game was the 78th and final contest for center back
Mike Naylor (Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook Regional), a four-year Raptor letterman who finished tied for 24th in career games with Chad Zimecki (2000-03). Naylor was an All-NJAC First Team player this season.
