The Scranton Royals stunned Drew men’s soccer as the visitors used two goals by Jeff Bochicchio to defeat the Rangers, 3-2, in the second overtime period of the Landmark Conference Semifinals.  Bochicchio equalized in the 83^rd and then scored the Golden Goal in the 104^th minute of play.  The Rangers had twice taken the lead though Marc Chiarello and Anthony Pisani, but uncharacteristically couldn’t hold the advantage.  The Royals move on to face the Catholic Cardinals for the Landmark Championship.

Drew went up 1-0 just 100 seconds into the game.  Greg Zizik won a free kick just outside of the box; incidentally, in nearly the same position that he scored in the Landmark Conference Final in 2007, but at the opposite end of the field.  His free kick dipped to the front post though Brandon Dombrowski got down well to save it.  The rebound spilled out in front of the net where John Jabar was quickest to it.  Jabar chipped it back across goal where Marc Chiarello knocked it home from a step off the goal line.

Drew came close to a second just a few minutes later as Sam Nepveux ran onto Curtis Fornarotto’s well placed long ball.  Nepveux chipped the keeper, but Ednie raced back to clear the ball out of bounds a few feet from the goal line.

Off a quick counter attack, the Royals evened it up in the 9th minute.  Michael Drew took an outlet pass to the endline before making a great move to get a yard of space.  His cross was met perfectly on the volley by Matt Bronczyk who ripped the back of the net to make it 1-1. 

Scranton nearly took a lead from that same duo later in the half.  In a reverse of the previous play, Bronczyk crossed deep to Drew at the far post.  From right on the endline, Drew headed with power, but could only hit the post. 

The Rangers retook the lead five minutes into the second period.  Matthew Greenberg slid an inch perfect through ball for Anthony Pisani to run onto.  The senior’s shot was partially blocked by Dombrowski, but skipped into the goal for the 2-1 lead.

The Rangers nearly added a third off a corner kick.  Adrian Kawuba’s cross was met by Jabar in the box who headed down to the corner.  The ball got past Dombrowski, but a Royal defender was able to shoulder the ball off the bar and then clear away after it bounced on the line.

The Royals would make the reprieve count as Jeff Bochicchio scored the equalizing goal with just seven minutes remaining in regulation.  A scramble in the box saw Bochicchio quickest to react and the senior was able to squeeze the ball inside the right post to tie the game again.  Despite some more chances from both teams, the game moved to overtime at 2-2 following Bochicchio’s goal in the 82^nd minute. 

A great last-ditch tackle by Rob Ednie prevented a sure goal by Sam Nepveux in the first minute of overtime before the Royals would end the Rangers’ dreams of a Landmark title in the second OT.  For the second time in the game Bochicchio was the hero.  Pat Page sent a great long cross from near midfield to Michael Drew inside the 18 yard box.  Drew headed down to Bochicchio whose half volley stunned the Rangers and sent the Royals on to the Landmark Conference title game. 

For the second straight season, Drew lost a home game in the semifinals of the Landmark Conference Tournament after winning the regular season title.  The Rangers are still eligible for post season play with the ECAC Tournament the likely destination.
 
 Scranton Royals (12-5-2) vs. Drew Rangers (9-5-5)
 Date: Nov 04, 2009  Attendance: 300
 Weather: Cold
 
 Goals by period       1  2 OT O2  Tot
 -------------------------------------
 Scranton Royals.....  1  1  0  1 -  3
 Drew Rangers........  1  1  0  0 -  2
 
 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.   1:40 DREW Marc Chiarello (John Jabar) - Off the save, Jabar flicked to Chairello.
  2.   8:46 SCRMS09 Matt Bronczyk (Michael Drew)
  3.  49:27 DREW Anthony Pisani (Matthew Greenberg)
  4.  82:38 SCRMS09 Jeff Bochicchio (unassisted)
  5. 103:05 SCRMS09 Jeff Bochicchio (Michael Drew;Pat Page) - cross, headed down, half volley
 
 Shots: Scranton Royals 9, Drew Rangers 18
 Saves: Scranton Royals 5 (Brandon Dombrowski 4; TEAM 1), Drew Rangers
 3 (Jeff Rogers 3)
 Landmark Conference Semifinals