Oct. 31, 2003
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette senior defender Andrew Cottrell (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) picked a perfect time to tally his first career point.
On Senior Night at Lafayette, Cottrell lofted a ball into the box from midfield in the 104th minute that Nathan Jolly (Northumberland, England/Coquet) was able to possess amongst a crowd and fire past Lehigh's onrushing keeper for a 1-0 Leopard win.
The win guaranteed Lafayette (8-5-3 overall, 3-1-2 Patriot League) a berth in the four-team Patriot League Tournament for the fifth time in the last six years.
Jolly's third goal of the season punctuated a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams miss on scoring opportunities.
Lafayette keeper Jay Freedman (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow East) snared a pair of Mountain Hawk headers on goal in the first 20 minutes, while Lehigh's Sam Bishop made a brilliant diving save of a Matt Battiste (Niscayuna, N.Y./Niscayuna) rocket midway through the first half.
Lehigh (7-3-7, 1-1-4) had its best opportunity late in the second half when Steve Fisher broke into the clear, but his shot was wide left. Both teams would chip shots over the net in the first overtime session.
Freedman finished with three saves in the shutout, while Bishop made a pair of saves for the Mountain Hawks.
Lafayette closes out the regular season at American next Saturday at 1 p.m. The Patriot League Tournament gets underway Nov. 14, with the dates and sites to be determined.
