Oct. 31, 2015
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette men's soccer team honored its six-member senior class on Saturday afternoon at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium, but unfortunately could not get past Navy, falling by a 4-0 margin.
Quentin Anson, Nate Arronson, Greg Biggiani, Michael Bloom, Todd Forrester and Eric West played in their final game on College Hill, finishing their careers with a 15-10-8 overall record on their home turf. The group combined for 13 goals and eight assists, as well as 10 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selections during their time in Easton and helped capture the Patriot League championship in 2012.
With the win, the Mids, preseason favorites in the Patriot League, move to 4-3-0 in league play and 8-7-1 overall, while Lafayette drops to 5-7-5 on the season and 2-5-1 in conference action. Depending on the result of tonight's Lehigh-Army West Point contest, the Leopards may still have a chance at a playoff berth with continued help from around the league and a win at Colgate on Nov. 7.
"We made some mistakes tonight that put us in position to fight an uphill battle," head coach Dennis Bohn said. "The defense has done a great job the last few weeks and we're creating a lot of chances, but we just haven't been able to finish and make plays. When that happens and you're playing that aggressively, you're most likely going to give up some goals on the other end."
A miscommunication along the back line of the Lafayette defense led to the first goal of the game in the 18th minute. Navy's Sam Bascom worked down the middle of the field and chipped a ball out to the left side of the box. Seeber came off his line, but Daniel Zaremba beat him to the ball and finished into the far side for a 1-0 lead.
Just five minutes later, though, Lafayette's offense started to take shape as Forrester and freshman Josh Kruczek almost connected for the equalizer. Working through the Mids' defense down the middle, Forrester hit Kruczek on a run to his right into the box, but the rookie's shot was right into the chest of Navy keeper Jackson Morgan.
Then, just before the end of the half, arguably Lafayette's best chance of the game came off a free kick from Arronson. Setting up just outside the box on the top right corner, his effort looked as if it was going to curl in under the cross bar and inside the far left post. However, Morgan was able to get a hand on it and send it over the line for a corner.
Out of the halftime break, Navy added its second tally of the game in the 50th minute off a set piece. Bascom sent his service into the far side of the box, where Michael Parker was able to get a head on it and send it low into the right side for a 2-0 edge.
A red card issued to Lafayette's Ryan Egan just over four minutes later put the Leopards at a disadvantage for the remainder of the contest. However, the Maroon and White still created chances as Arronson again found himself in position in the 69th minute. Applying high-end pressure, the senior was able to create a turnover at the top of the Colgate box, but a heavy touch allowed Morgan to swallow up the opportunity.
A pair of Navy tallies in the 78th and 87th minutes finished off the Maroon and White's home slate with a 4-0 final score. The Mids led the way in shots, 12-8, but corners were event at two apiece.
Lafayette has the week off before it travels to Hamilton, N.Y. for its final regular-season contest on Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. If the Leopards were fortunate enough to find a way into the Patriot League Tournament, the quarterfinal round would take place on Nov. 10 at the site of the higher seed.
