Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Villanova
Drexel Falls to Villanova in Season Opener
9/12/2006 1:36:42 PM | Men's Soccer
Villanova, Pa. – Drexel dropped its season opener, 3-1, to Soccer Seven rival Villanova. The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 first-half lead and held on for the victory. Transfer sophomore Wade Gerhardt (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) scored the Dragons' lone goal in the contest.
Villanova pulled out to a 2-0 lead in the first half on a header by Michael Seamon off a Joe Taylor corner kick in the 14th minute. The Wildcats tallied again in the 35th minute when Dan McKenna knocked in a quick goal off a turnover.
The Dragons came back 10 minutes into the second half when Brandon Fischer (Baldwin, Md./Fallsont) blasted a shot on goal from 20 yards out. The drive deflected off a Wildcat defender into the air. Transfer sophomore Gerhardt met the ball on its descent and lofted a volley from the left side of the goal box toward the right post. Villanova's keeper dove to deflect the ball but it was just out of his reach and settled in the back of the net to cut the lead to 2-1.
Drexel went on the attack after the goal as Villanova packed its team into the defensive end and took fewer chances on offense. In the 63rd minute freshman Cole Feffer (Upland, Calif./Upland) carried the ball in to the zone and made a nice feed to Anthony Bafile (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown) but the freshman's shot was turned away by the Wildcats' keeper.
In the 75th minute Drexel made a quick turnaround off a Villanova set piece in the corner and Dominick Balsamo (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) fed Greg Ermold (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin) for a breakaway. Ermold had his defender beat but the Villanova player committed a foul to stop the impending one-on-one situation. Balsamo launched the subsequent free kick over the goal, effectively ending the scoring threat.
Villanova countered the Drexel score in the 80th minute when Seamon set up Taylor for a goal on a shot from the left side of the goal box to give Villanova an insurance goal at 3-1.
The Dragons had another opportunity with three minutes remaining when Pat McCaffery (Langhorne, Pa./La Salle College) found himself wide open at the top of the goal box off a reset. But Villanova's keeper, Friel made a quick reaction save to stave off the sophomore's shot.
Sophomore keeper Cory Robertson (Flagstaff, Ariz./Horizon) made four saves in the contest while Friel made seven stops for the Wildcats. Drexel out-shot Villanova 11-5 in the second half and 16-13 overall.
Drexel returns to action on Friday, Sept. 1 when the team travels to play St. Francis (Pa.) at 4:00 p.m.
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