Oct. 14, 2008

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Junior Steve Ference's goal with 30 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Lafayette men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over Villanova on Tuesday evening. The Leopards recorded their fourth shutout of the year.

The victory, which snapped a four game winless streak, gave the Leopards their fourth win of the season. Goalie Andrew Pianko made four saves en route to the shut out. Stephen Macurdy recorded his team-leading fourth assist of the season on Ference's goal.

Lafayette's first chance at a goal came on a shot by freshman Shane Pruitt with 9:53 on the clock but Wildcats goalie Chris Breshahan came up with the save, one of his four on the afternoon. Pianko made save on a header by Sean Mergenthal with less than two minutes remaining in the half to keep the game scoreless at the midway point.

The teams matched each other in shots in the second half with nine apiece but none found the back of the net. Villanova's Michael Seamon nearly ended the game with a hard shot that hit off the right post while the Leopards' B.J. Glenn had one final shot for the game winner but Bresnahan made the stop on his shot, forcing overtime.

Pianko made two key saves on shots by Joe Taylor in the 96th minute to keep his team in the game. Ference then came through with 32 seconds on the clock. He capitalized on a Villanova foul when Macurdy got the ball to Ference who shot it past Bresnahan for the game-winning score.

Lafayette returns to league play this weekend when the team hosts Army at 1 p.m.

Postgame Notes:
- These two teams have now played in a combined for 10 overtime games this season.
- The Leopards improve to 4-0-1 all-time against the Wildcats.
- Ference's two goals this season and Macurdy's three assists are both career highs.