Hackettstown, N.J. (September 1, 2012) - Centenary fought back twice on the second day of the Cyclone Kickoff Classic, however could not keep pace with Drew University, falling 4-2 to the Rangers.

Drew was paced by the duo of Katie O'Keefe and Caroline Kuras who each scored two goals, to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead early, then to regain a two goal advantage late in the game.

The game began with each team taking turns controlling the game's tempo, with Tatiana Kingston (Mountainside, NJ, Governor Livingston) firing off two early shots on goal. Drew's goalkeeper, Kim Jaikissoon was up to the task however, holding Centenary off the board.

Kuras and the Rangers eventually scored first as Kuras carried the ball down the left side of the field, punching the ball into the net to open the scoring at the 17:30 mark. Drew would score again, when O'Keefe headed a ball into goal off a pass from the right from Emma Campbell.

The Rangers appeared as if they would be heading into the half with a two-goal lead when Centenary received a much needed shot of adrenaline in the final minute of the first half. With the clock ticking away, Kingston sent a ball to Rebecca D'Angelo (Mechanicsburg, Pa., Cumberland Valley) who struck a long range shot that bent just under the crossbar and just above the outstretched hands of the Rangers keeper to bring the Cyclones to within one goal with just 47 seconds remaining in the half.

 

The second half began much like the first, with each team advancing the ball and getting off quality shots to no avail. Drew eventually found the net in the second half when O'Keefe chipped home her second goal of the game in the 70^th minute. Kuras then added her second goal of the game seven minutes later to push the Rangers lead to 4-1.

Centenary once again fought back as Kingston drove a ball off the crossbar in the 83^rd minute, but the ball only stayed out of the goal for a few seconds as Laura Potter (Gilboa, NY, Gilboa- Conesville) cleaned up the scraps, sending the ball in to once again cut the lead to two goals.

The Cyclones put together a few more flurries in the final minutes, however, in the end, the Rangers maintained the 4-2 win, sending each team to 1-1 on the season.

Centenary's Nikki Crowley (Flanders, NJ, Mount Olive) was presented the Brittany Emerald Paes Award after the game as the Cyclones' Most Valuable Player during the Cyclone Kickoff Classic. The Classic was played in memory of Brittany Emerald Paes, a native of Gilboa, N.Y., the same home of current Cyclone Laura Potter. Paes, a budding soccer player, passed away in a tragic ATV accident in June.

The Cyclones will be in action next Saturday, September 8^th when Centenary hosts Montclair State University at 1 pm.