Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Towson (CAA Semifinals)
Dragons Fall To Towson in Semifinals of CAA Tournament
11/16/2007 7:48:19 PM | Men's Soccer
Philadelphia, Pa. – Drexel's thrilling run to the CAA semifinals came to an end on a chilly night in Virginia Beach. After a first half in which the Dragons (11-5-3) dominated offensively and did everything but score a goal, Towson (12-7-1) took advantage of a free kick to take a 1-0 lead early in the second half and change the pace of the match. The Tigers finished off a 2-0 victory to advance to the finals of the CAA Tournament. Drexel yielded two goals for just the second time all season in conference play as Towson avenged its regular-season loss to the Dragons.
Towson got off just one shot in the first half but the Tigers' first shots on goal in the second period were the only ones they needed. Just over seven minutes into the second half the Tigers drew a foul just outside the goal box on a physical defensive play. Matt Beckman lined up to take the kick and blasted a low liner to the left of the Drexel wall. Keeper Cory Robertson, who had measured his dive perfectly, stretched to block the shot but the rebound dribbled to the left where Nino Mangione cleaned it up with a shot to the far side of the goal for a 1-0 Towson lead. The goal was the first allowed by Robertson in a span of more than 408 minutes between the pipes.
Drexel pressured the Tigers on offense from that point on, pushing more attackers forward to generate scoring opportunities. The Dragons best chances came on long shots from just outside the box. Just minutes after the goal, Brandon Fischer struck a ball in full stride that cleared Towson's defenders and dove toward the upper left corner. But keeper Billy Chiles dove to knock it away for the save. Fischer had a similar opportunity a few minutes later but opted to lift the ball this time for a cross, but his pass was not met with a header from a teammate.
Midway through the period Fabio Assumpção dribbled his way into the open about five yards outside the box and unleashed a fearsome blast that lined its way to the goal, but was met by a Towson defender's midsection five yards into the box to deflect the ball. Drexel's offensive pressure resulted in several break-away attempts for the Tigers. Robertson charged off the line aggressively on more than one opportunity to break up the attacks.
Towson's second goal was the result of one such break. Angus Burke's low liner to the left side from 10 yards out was blocked by a diving Robertson. But as he recovered back to the line, Burke carried the rebound toward the end line and drilled a shot across the face of the goal that ricocheted in to make it 2-0 Towson.
Robertson finished the contest with three saves but registered at least a half a dozen acrobatic break-ups in addition to the stops. Chiles recorded four stops in his shutout. Drexel outshot Towson 18-9 in the loss, but the Tigers earned six corner kicks to Drexel's three.
In the first half Drexel came out with the intensity of a team playing in its first postseason action in five years. The Dragons dominated offensive opportunities, outshooting Towson 8-1 in the period and forcing keeper Billy Chiles to make three saves. But for all their efforts, the score remained knotted 0-0 after the first 45 minutes.
The Dragons first shots were long blasts from beyond 30 yards out that went wide of the net. But as the clock ticked down Drexel zeroed in on its target. In the 17th minute Greg Ermold gave the Dragons their first shot on goal with a header to the near post off an Anthony Bafile corner kick. Seven minutes later, Pat McCaffery served a ball from midfield into left side of the box. Bafile launched himself into the air and narrowly missed on a bicycle kick as the ball whizzed past him.
Towson's best scoring opportunity came in the 27th minute when a build up on the left side resulted in a high cross lifted to the right side of the goal box. Two Tigers found themselves wide open with the bouncing ball in front of them. In the scramble for the ball, Towson's shot went wide left of the goal. Drexel keeper Cory Robertson dispatched the Tigers' other opportunities with a punch out from a set piece in the 29th minute and a pair of leaping break-ups on crossing attempts.
The loss put the wraps on one Drexel's most successful seasons since joining the CAA. The Dragons 11 wins were the most since 1998 and the team finished tied for first place in regular-season conference play for the first time since 1995.
Goal Summary
52:46 Nino Mangione (Matt Beckman)
79:31 Angus Burke (unassisted)
Shots: Drexel 18, Towson 9
Corners: Towson 6, Drexel 3
Saves: Drexel- Robertson (3), Towson- Chiles (4)
