Drexel University
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Snaps Men's Soccer's Winning Streak With 1-0 Shutout
9/16/2006 6:05:16 PM | Men's Soccer
Philadelphia, Pa. – Drexel (4-2) saw its four-game winning streak come to an end at the feet of Soccer Seven rival Philadelphia University (3-2) when Devon Klipp scored just six minutes into the game and the Rams held on for the victory.
The lone tally of the game came on what appear to be an innocuous play near Drexel's end line. But instead of Drexel's defense forcing a goal kick, the Rams Matt Tompkins, reigning Soccer Seven co-Player of the Week, was able to slide the ball across the goal box to Klipp who tapped it in for the early lead.
The Dragons, who've come from behind in two of their four victories this season, turned up the intensity to earn five corner kicks in the first period. But Drexel was unable to connect for a score as Philadelphia keeper Charles Custer was in the right place at the right time to make a pair of point-blank saves on blasts by Dominick Balsamo.
Balsmo led the Dragons with seven shots in the game, three of them on goal, and nearly connected with a ball served by Brandon Fischer with less than 10 minutes in the match. Custer was in position to deflect the diving shot and preserve his first shutout of the season.
Philadelphia nearly earned itself an insurance goal when, with under five minutes remaining, Fischer sprinted back to defend Anders Novesky on a break away. Fischer was able to force a turnover, which Drexel keeper Cory Robertson scooped up, but the referee ruled that Fischer touched the ball back to Robertson and he, therefore could not pick it up. This set up a free kick inside the penalty box for the Rams. But Drexel's wall held its line and deflected the resulting blast by Klipp to keep the Rams within reach.
The Dragons' final chance of the match came with Philadelphia was whistled for an offside infraction near the sideline at midfield with four seconds remaining. Robertson came out of the goal to take the free kick and launched it into the penalty box to the full compliment of Dragons. But Custer leapt before a Drexel player could get a head on it to end the game.
Drexel earned nine corner kicks in the match, to Philadelphia's one and outshot the Rams 10-6. Custer made four saves in his shutout and Robertson made three stops for the Dragons. The loss completes Drexel's non-conference docket for the season. The Dragons travel to Virginia for tilts against conference foes William & Mary and Old Dominion next week.
The men's soccer team welcomed back former players for Alumni Day. At halftime members of the 1956, '61 and '81 teams were honored, among them were All-Americans Fred Gerstenfield and Anthony Washofsky.
DU 0 0 - 0
PU 1 0 - 1
Goals: #6 Devon Klipp 6:06 (Matt Tompkins)
Shots: Drexel 10, Philadelphia 6
Corners: Drexel 9, Philadelphia 1
Saves: Cory Robertson (Drexel) 3, Charles Custer (Philadelphia) 4
