Men's Soccer Nets Win In Front of Capacity Crowd

Tuesday, September 15

Vidas Field

7:00

Drexel University

1-5-0

Penn

0-3-1

Penn

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Soccer Nets Win In Front of Capacity Crowd

9/15/2015 9:41:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – In front of a capacity crowd of 1,500 at Vidas Field, the Drexel men's soccer team claimed bragging rights over neighborhood rival Penn as the Dragons claimed a 1-0 victory in the University City Derby. The win was the first of the year for Drexel, which also recorded its first shutout of the season.

After trio of goalless games for the Dragons, Drexel got on the board in the 63rd minute on Tuesday. Playing into the crowd of Drexel students sitting on the embankment on the north end of Vidas, Francisco Rodrigues da Palma played the ball into the right corner. Deep in the corner, he poked a cross over the heads of the Penn defense to Colin McGlynn slicing downfield towards the far post. McGlynn launched forward and headed it perfectly inside the post. The crowd erupted as the Dragons converged on McGlynn for their first goal celebration since September 1.

McGlynn's goal capped a frenzied start to the second half for the Dragons, who had 10 of their 13 shots after intermission. Drexel pushed tempo after the break, feeding off the crowd and finding holes in a young Penn defensive unit. After peppering the goal and Penn goalkeeper Etan Mabourakh for nearly 20 minutes, the Dragons broke through.

Penn made the Dragons sweat it out in the closing minutes. The Quakers got perhaps their best shot of the evening in the 87th minute when Matt Poplawski rifled a shot that had plenty of power behind it, but sailed just high and right. Penn was unable to get another shot off as Drexel outshot the Quakers 13-6 on the evening.

The win capped a three-game homestand for Drexel, and marked the Dragons' first win over the Quakers since 2012. The two teams are now deadlocked at 2-2 in the four-year history of the University City Derby, arranged by head coaches Doug Hess and Rudy Fuller.

Drexel's win gives it some momentum heading into its first Colonial Athletic Association game, which will take place on Friday night when the Dragons visit Elon. That game will get underway at 7:00 p.m.