Comeback Falls Just Short for Men's Soccer at Delaware, 3-2

Wednesday, September 27

Newark, Del.

7 p.m.

Drexel University

1-5-1 (0-1-1CAA)

Delaware

5-2-1 (2-1CAA)

Drexel

Delaware

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Comeback Falls Just Short for Men's Soccer at Delaware, 3-2

9/27/2017 9:29:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – The Drexel men's soccer team put up a strong fight on Wednesday night at Delaware in the Dragons' first road test in the Colonial Athletic Association this year, but ultimately fell to the host Blue Hens, 3-2. The Dragons overcame an early 2-0 lead to even the score early in the second half, but could not finish off the comeback as Delaware had a response and held on down the stretch.

Drexel (1-5-1, 0-1-1) scored twice off just seven shots, ending up outshot by the Blue Hens 17-7. Mathias Ebbesen converted the Dragons' first penalty kick attempt of the year, and Dakota Peterson netted his first collegiate goal to briefly even the score early in the second half.

Delaware got on the board first with a pair of goals just 62 seconds apart in the 30th and 31st minutes. The Blue Hens had been pressuring Drexel's defense often in the first half, and it paid off for the first score. John Schroeder beat the defense into the box, then fed it back to Fede Prieto streaking up the middle. He poked it past Jacob Jordan to make it a 1-0 game.

Shortly after play was restarted, the Dragons got the ball back deep in their own zone, but mishandled it and Delaware's Chad Poarch was the beneficiary, firing into an empty net to make it 2-0.

Drexel responded quickly. With exactly 12:00 to play in the half, Drexel pressured Delaware goalkeeper Todd Morton, who overplayed the ball and was called for a yellow card that brought up a Dragons penalty shot. It was taken by Mathias Ebbesen, who ripped the shot to Morton's right, converting on Drexel's first penalty attempt of the year. The goal cut Delaware's lead in half, where the score would remain as the teams headed for the locker rooms.

Drexel's deficit in the first half could have been worse. In the sixth minute, Poarch outraced the Dragons' defense and rocketed a shot from 10 yards out that was deflected away by Jordan. The ball was still loose when Prieto got to it and tried to chip a shot in past the reach of Jordan. It got by the keeper, but was cleared up and over the net by an athletic move from Dragons defender Warne Lewis.

It took the Dragons just under four minutes after intermission to knot the score. Ebbesen brought the ball into the right side of the box, leaving it off for Xavier Bou Hernandez. The senior who had two assists in Drexel's win on Saturday night found his man again, chipping it over to Dakota Peterson charging in from the left. A low shot off the foot of the senior from Colorado found the back of the net, his first career goal and the equalizer to erase Delaware's early lead.

Delaware retook the lead five minutes later. The Dragons were issued a yellow card, setting up a free kick from just outside the box. Prieto took it, and connected with Halvard Ramstad who headed it past the outstretched reach of Jordan.

The Dragons had a number of looks the rest of the way, but could not finish the offensive sets. Perhaps their best look came on a corner kick in the 81st minute. Neil Boyal sent it deep, but Lorenz Walbert was there on the back side to head it cleanly. Morton was able to position himself to take it in, though, keeping Drexel down a goal.

Drexel will return to Vidas Field on Saturday afternoon when the Dragons host Northeastern at 4 p.m. for another chance at their first CAA victory.