Oct. 8, 2006

Box Score

EASTON, Pa.- (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette women's soccer team suffered a heart-breaking 3-2 loss to Patriot League foe Colgate Sunday afternoon at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium. Leopard goals by senior forward Kelli McMahon and junior Brittany Downham were spoiled when the Raiders tallied three second half goals.

The Leopards wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Just over a minute into the game, sophomore midfielder Lauren Hinkel carried the ball across midfield. Hinkel turned to her left and found junior Alison Hingley streaking down the left sideline. Hingley took a few touches before sending a left footed cross into the Colgate box to find the head of McMahon. The senior forward directed the ball into the lower left portion of the goal and the Leopards had an early 1-0 lead.

Colgate tried to regain the momentum midway through the first half when freshman forward Jessica Bitsack blasted a shot from 25 yards away. Lafayette junior goalkeeper Mary Kate Erdman dove to her left and barely got a touch on the ball to deflect it off the right post. A clear by senior tri-captain Trista Burke ended the Raider scoring chance.

Lafayette increased its lead in the 35th minute when junior forward Kelly Koreyva again attacked the left side of the Colgate defense. Koreyva found space in the box and lifted a pass over the Raider defense where Downham headed the ball into the net and gave the Leopards a 2-0 lead.

Another chance from Downham was turned away late in the first half when her shot hit off the left post, and the Leopards had to settle with a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

An energized Colgate team took the field in the second half. That energy was rewarded in the 54th minute when a scramble in front of the Lafayette goal was put into the net by Colgate junior midfielder Jaime Dennison.

The Raiders tied the game in the 62nd minute when another loose ball in the Leopard box was picked up by Raider junior Franny Iacuzzi and put into the goal.

Colgate kept the pressure on and put the finishing touches on the comeback five minutes later when Dennison again was in the right place at the right time and picked up a ball deep inside the Lafayette defense. A right footed shot that sailed past a diving Erdman gave Colgate the game winning goal.

Erdman recorded six saves in the loss, while Colgate goalkeeper Brittany Pearsall tallied two in the saves in the victory.

Head coach Mick Statham saw his Leopards suffer their third straight tough loss in Patriot League action, but says Holy Cross now has to become the focus.

"I think we played to protect the lead in the second half instead of trying to add another goal," Statham said. "We'll continue to work hard, maybe address our defense in set pieces, and develop a game plan to try and beat Holy Cross."

Lafayette will have the week to prepare for the Crusaders, as they will travel to Worchester, Mass. on Oct. 14 with game time scheduled for 1 p.m.