Oct. 22, 2005
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EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The first game on the newly-dedicated Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium resulted in a decisive 4-0 Lafayette win over Navy on Saturday in Patriot League men's soccer action.
Prior to the game, Jack Bourger '71, Selena Vanderwerf and members of the Bourger family and Dr. Wilbur Oaks '51, his wife Mary Ann and family were honored with a luncheon and a special presentation at midfield.
The event set the tone for the game in which Lafayette ran away with a 4-0 decision. At 32:44. Junior Thomas Harju played a free kick to the far post and sophomore Luke Sullivan headed it past the Navy keeper to give Lafayette a 1-0 lead. Sullivan's first game-winning goal of the season proved to be enough for the Leopards who improve to 8-4-1, 2-2 in conference play.
Less than five minutes before the end of the first half, which was characterized by rough play (26 fouls between the two teams), Navy's McKenzie Plantz was issued a red card and ejected from the game on a roughing call.
The Leopards took advantage in the second session. At 54:22, senior captain Ryan McCaughey scored his first goal of the season. A free kick in the Lafayette half bounced off a defender and McCaughey collected it at the top of the box before firing a scoring shot.
Just over four minutes later (58:40), Sullivan was again involved in the Leopards' offense, delivering a through ball on a breakaway to classmate Mark Price who chipped it over Navy's Thomas Jenkins who was drawn out of net on the play.
Lafayette added an own goal in the 68th minute to run the final score to 4-0.
Senior captain Mike Tortora did the bulk of the work in net for Lafayette, making three saves in 86 minutes. Scott Backus relieved Tortora for the final 4:18 and did not record a save, but shared in the squad's fifth shutout of the season. Jenkins made four saves and surrendered four goals in 90 minutes for Navy (7-6-1, 2-3).
Lafayette will have one day of rest before traveling to Army on Monday for a 7 p.m. kick off. The Patriot League contest was originally scheduled for Oct. 8, but was postponed due to inclement weather.
