Nov. 7, 2009
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - With an offensive outburst and its always consistent defense, the Lafayette men's soccer squad downed Navy 3-0 to secure a spot in the Patriot League Tournament for the eighth straight season.
With the Senior Night victory, Lafayette (10-6-2, 4-3-0) earned the No. 4 seed in next weekend's Patriot League Tournament. Bucknell captured the No. 1 seed and the right to host. Lehigh will be the No. 2 and American the No. 3.
Lafayette's three goals were the most scored all season and three different players got in on the action. Senior Nick Leigh netted the first goal, which stood as the game winner, just 5:43 into the match. Freshman Blake Fink and sophomore Wayne Maminski added the insurance goals.
Leopard goalie Philip Nelson picked up his ninth shutout of the fall and the team's 11th overall. His nine shutouts are the third most in single-season Lafayette history and his 20 career shutouts are tied for third all-time.
The Leopards wasted no time in getting things started. Leigh scored his first goal of the season on a scrum in front of the goal. Kyle Scharfenberg headed the ball towards the goal and it was Leigh who forced it past Navy goalie Will Craven, who never got a good hand on the ball, for a score at 39:16.
Fink succeeded in making it a 2-0 game with a score at the 21:36 mark after he connected with a solid shot that again got past Craven.
The offensive outpouring continued when Jake Johnson found Maminski, who dribbled right past the Navy defenders and Craven to find the back of the net and open the Leopards' lead to 3-0.
Lafayette's defense continued their solid play and kept it a 3-0 Leopard lead at halftime.
Navy was far more active on offense in its second 45 minutes, taking eight shots compared to its one in the opening half. The Lafayette defense never caved, however, as the Midshipmen's offense remained frustrated.
While Lafayette also failed to score, their three-goal insurance made sure it did not make a difference as Leopards held on for their largest margin of victory of the fall.
The Leopards face No. 1 seed Bucknell on Friday in Lewisburg. Game time is TBA.
Postgame Notes:
- The team's four seniors - Chip Aronica, Nick Leigh, Philip Nelson and Matt Reichenbach - were honored prior to the start of the match. All four started the game.
- Lafayette has now won six straight vs. the Midshipmen.
- The three goals were not only the most scored this season, they were also the most scored since a 3-0 win also over the Midshipmen last fall.
