MADISON, N.J. – Senior
Josh Weiss scored the game's only goal in the 69th minute to lift the Centenary University men's soccer team to a 1-0 upset win over No. 12 Drew University in the final match of the Drew Fall Festival on Saturday.
The win presented head coach
Josh Spivack with his first victory on the Centenary sidelines and was the first win over a ranked team for the Cyclones since they beat No. 16 Susquehanna during the 2013 season. It is also the highest ranked opponent the Cyclones have ever beaten.
"We came in with a tactical plan, we executed it and the team as a whole worked to get that result," said Spivack.
Centenary's win snapped Drew's 13 match home win streak, which dated back to 2016.
Both teams had their chances in the first half as the Cyclones took three shots and forced
Jason Adamo, the Drew keeper to make two saves. The Rangers rattled off six shots in the first 45 minutes of the contest and senior
Devon Warne stopped all three shots that were on goal.
"Coming in playing the 12th ranked team in the nation was always going to be a test," said Warne. "We knew we had to not only work hard but keep morale high and remember to play the full 90 minutes to get the win."
Both team continued to get to goal in the second half as Drew had nine shots and the Cyclones had five in the second 45 minutes of action. However, it was Centenary that made their shot count as Weiss ripped off a point blank shot in the 69th minute that deflected off the Drew keeper and a defender and went in the back of the net.
It proved to be Weiss' seventh career game-winning goal.
"Scoring a goal against this quality of an opponent is a great accomplishment," said Weiss. "However, I couldn't have had the chance if my teammates didn't work so hard defensively behind me. They allowed me to have that chance and I am glad I put it away."
A strong defensive effort down the stretch secured the win for the Cyclones.
Warne finished with six saves to earn the win in goal. It was the senior's 12th career shutout. Adamo made four saves in the loss for Drew.
The Cyclones are back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 5 when they open their home slate by hosting Moravian at 4 p.m. on J.E. Reeves Jr. Field.
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