Sept. 13, 2002

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The host Leopards dug themselves into an early 2-0 hole, and could not rebound, losing 2-1 to Columbia in the nightcap of the Lafayette Soccer Classic.

Columbia opened the game aggressively on the offensive end and scored on its first two shots. Tommy McMenemy netted the first Lions' goal off of a cross from Tyler Birch at 6:49, and Thorsteinn Gestsson blistered a shot past Leopards' goalie Jay Freedman (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow East) at 8:30.

After the furious pace early on, the Leopards settled things down and allowed only one shot on net over the final 80 minutes.

Offensively, Lafayette managed four first half shots, but Columbia's Dean Arnaoutakis turned each aside.

The Leopards picked up their play in the second half, forcing four corners, and out shooting Columbia 2-1.

Ralph Rapuano (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) netted a late goal on a penalty shot to get Lafayette on the board, but time expired on the charging Leopards.

Lafayette returns to action on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the second round of the Lafayette Soccer Classic against La Salle. Columbia will play Northwestern at noon.

Northwestern upended La Salle in game 1 of Friday's doubleheader at Metzgar Fields 1-0.