Sept. 12, 2012

Box Score

(3-1-1) 1 2 F Drexel 0 1 1 Lafayette 0 0 0 Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (1-4-1)

EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette men's soccer team lost a 1-0 non-league match to Drexel on Wednesday night at Oaks Stadium. A goal with 6:59 to play put the Dragons ahead and helped them win their third straight game.

The deciding goal in the 84^th minute came when John Boswell sent a ball into the mix from the left side. Boswell's cross from 30 yards away connected with Nathan Page, who put his head on the ball and directed it past Lafayette keeper Alexander Leavy's outstretched arms.

With the loss, Lafayette falls to 1-4-1 overall, while Drexel improves to 3-1-1.

Lafayette's first chance early in the game resulted from freshman Nate Arronson winning a 50-50 ball at midfield and sending Blake Fink down the left side, but Fink's shot through a defender was handled by Drexel goalkeeper Tim Washam.

On the other end, Drexel's Guido Pena had a chance inside the penalty area at 33:19, but his low turnaround shot was corralled by Leavy, who made three saves in the game.

About seven minutes later, Fink came away with a Drexel turnover just outside the Dragons' 18-yard box, but his right-footed strike was kept out by an off-balance save by Washam.

The visitors' best chance of the opening 45 minutes came at 20:17 when Michele Pataia fired a shot just over the crossbar from the top of the box.

Lafayette responded a little more than three minutes later with a pair of excellent scoring opportunities. Chandler Fraser-Pauls' service set up a header from the penalty spot by Sean Peckham, but Washam knocked it aside. Fink then forced a turnover and carried into the area where he hit a right-footed shot that struck the near post and stayed out.

Neither team scored in the time before the break, which saw Washam save a Brandon Turner header off Arronson's corner kick.

In the 58^th minute, a Leopards' turnover in the midfield led to a long ball over the top of the Lafayette back line that Malcolm LeBourne ran onto and pushed past Leavy as he came out to challenge. Drexel's striker was unable to find the empty net, though, as his shot missed wide of the near post.

Alec Golini had a chance to put Lafayette on top in the 63^rd minute, but his shot in close sailed over the bar.

Shots favored Drexel (12-8) in the match, while Lafayette took five corners, compared to Drexel's two.

Next up for the Leopards is a trip to Emmitsburg, Md. on Saturday for a match with Mount St. Mary's at 1 p.m.

Game Notes:

Junior Jeff McLaughlin made his first appearance of the season and played 27 minutes

Lafayette drops to 8-6-1 in the all-time series against Drexel

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