PHILADELPHIA, PA. 9/23/2017 – The Drexel men’s soccer team came into the game looking for their initial win and goal of the season. They got both as two scores within 1:50 by junior midfielder Sebastien Cabral propelled the Dragons to a 2 – 1 win over their neighbor the University of Pennsylvania Quakers at Vidas Field.
Cabral got the first goal at the 15:24 mark as he took a pass from forward Xavier Bou Hernandez from the left sideline, then put the ball inside the left post. It was the culmination of hard work and preparation for Cabral.
“It was incredible,” said Cabral. “We had a good week of training after a rough start to the season. We were buzzing and knew it was coming.”
The combination worked again 17:14 into the game as Cabral slid a shot from the left baseline under the hands of Penn goal keeper Scott Forbes giving Drexel a big lift.
“My coach said ‘ride that energy over the next five minutes’,” Cabral said. “I was really happy. This is what we needed.”
A 2 – 0 halftime lead put the Dragons in control on the road to win number one.
“It was good to get the first one, and had to do it through difficulty,” Drexel Coach Doug Hess.
It was close to being a three-goal lead at the 18:24 mark of the second half. Drexel midfielder Mathias Ebbesen hit the inside of the post and deflected away, much to the amazement of Hess.
“How did that ball stay out when a round ball hits the inside of a round post,” wondered Hess? “That would have been the third goal and changed the complexion of the game.
Penn was putting on offensive pressure and got to within a goal in the 52nd minute when defender Sam Wancowicz put home a pass off a corner kick. Gavin Barger got the assist on the score.
The Quakers had a 10 – 3 advantage in shots in the second half, and 16 – 7 overall forcing Dragons goal keeper Jacob Jordan to make 3 saves. The Red and Blue had 6 of 7 corner kicks in the second half. Wancowicz led Penn with 6 shots, 5 in the latter stanza.
Drexel improves to 1 – 4 – 1 on the season while Penn drops to 1 – 6 – 0. The Dragons will get back to CAA play this week going to Delaware.
Both teams are young and struggling this season. Drexel earns their first Philadelphia Soccer Six win over a city rival, and a school with who they share a West Philadelphia neighborhood. It is excitement the team can build upon.
“Coach says there is a lot of history here,” Cabral said about their rivalry with Penn. “It’s a bigger game than us. It is the closest derby in collegiate soccer. We are excited to be a part of it, and happy to bring it home for the Dragons.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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