MADISON, N.J., October 29
Susquehanna Men’s Soccer concluded the 2022 campaign with a defeat in New Jersey, downed 1-0 by the Rangers of Drew University.
The hosts missed a postseason place on goal difference, unable to manage to pick up enough goals from last-placed Susquehanna to reach the Landmark tournament. For the River Hawks, that came down to the goalkeeping of Tony Burns and impressive defending that saw the Rangers take eighteen shots. They had eight shots on target, but only managed to beat the River Hawks’ first-year stopper with a goal that came at the end of the match.
An early River Hawk corner was the first chance of the match, as Tommy O’Keefe’s delivery was headed wide by defender Ethan Ganard. Drew would also get its first opportunity to strike from the first corner. Kyle Bethel forced a save from Burns after winning the initial header.
Chances came and went for both sides in the opening frame, but not with consistency. The first 45 saw just two shots on target, both for the home side. Three more River Hawks would have shots in the first half, all one each, but none went on target and goalkeeper Calum Erlenborn went untested into the interval.
Burns was forced into a third save just a few minutes into the second half before Tommy O’Keefe was the first of the River Hawks to shoot on target all game. Mike Morelli would do so next, his shot repelled by Erlenborn on 76 minutes. At this stage, Drew was searching for a goal, having been denied an opener for so long by Burns.
That goal came from a counterattack later. Max Paczewski had a shot saved by Erlenborn, and not 30 seconds later, the Rangers went on the counter and scored. Tony Burns was forced to come off his line to punch clear, but misfortune struck the River Hawks. The ball fell to Tino Puentes who dispatched the chance to give the Rangers their long-awaited opener just five minutes from time. Wyatt and Puentes were both booked in the 88th minute, and there was just enough time for Burns to deny Puentes a second in the final minute.
The defeat resigns the River Hawks to just two wins over their 17-game campaign, and an eighth-place finish in the Landmark Conference. They lose seven seniors and will be looking to build off the improvement they showed in the second half of the season.