Dragons Earn Rare Road Point in Scoreless University City Derby

Monday, September 3

Philadelphia, Pa.

7 p.m.

Drexel University

3-0-1

Penn

1-0-1

OT 3

OT 4

Drexel

Penn

Photo by: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

Dragons Earn Rare Road Point in Scoreless University City Derby

9/3/2018 9:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – On a steamy night in West Philadelphia, the Drexel men's soccer team played Penn to a scoreless draw in the annual University City Derby, becoming the first road team to earn a point since the series renewed as an annual rivalry game in 2012. The Dragons' defense fended off several Penn chances and redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Stephen Kopsachilis made both saves he was called upon to make as he put together a second consecutive clean sheet.

Mathias Ebbesen led the way for the Dragons with three shots, all on goal. Two of those came in the 109th minute of the contest, when he tested Penn keeper Scott Forbes with back-to-back low, hard shots from the left of the goal mouth to nearly provide some last-minute heroics.

The Dragons were outshot 8-2 in a scoreless first half, though both teams managed just one shot on goal. Ebbesen had Drexel's best look in the opening 45 minutes as well, a header from the middle of the box that Forbes leapt to tip up and over the crossbar.

Ebbesen was also involved in the Quakers' strongest look at goal. In the 43rd minute, Anthony Rovito wound up with the ball on his right foot after a scramble in the box. He let loose a smash that the Drexel senior took in the chin, blocking the point blank shot aside and out of harm's way.

The Quakers put together a number of good looks at the goal early in the second half. Their best chance came in the 52nd minute when Rovito again had a look in close. After a scramble in front of the net, Rovito had a look at a seemingly-open net as Kopsachilis scrambled to get back into position. He may have been able to recover, but it was not necessary as grad student Griffin Mallas slid in to block the shot wide of the goal. Penn earned one of its 12 corners, compared to just five for the Dragons, but could do nothing with any of them.

Though the Dragons will take the rare road point in the Derby, Drexel came up short in its attempt to start its season 4-0-0. They remain unbeaten, however, and will have an opportunity to match their best five-game start under head coach Doug Hess when they return home on Saturday evening to take on NJIT at 6 p.m. A victory in that contest would leave the Dragons with a 4-0-1 mark, equaling their record through five games in Hess' first season on the sidelines at Drexel, 2010.