Oct. 29, 2016
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette women's soccer team has earned a spot in the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2011 despite a 2-1 loss to Colgate on Saturday evening. The sixth-seeded Leopards will travel to third-seeded Lehigh on Tuesday in the quarterfinal round.
"Part of coming into the game is we knew we had qualified for the tournament, which allowed us to psychologically and emotionally settle down a bit," head coach Mick Statham said. "Of course we'll go there on Tuesday and try to win the game. There's quite a fine line between the teams in this league so you know with any team you play, you've got a chance."
Saturday night also marked Senior Night for the Leopards' eight seniors in Kaelin King, Melissa Lynskey, Danielle Sedillo, Elizabeth Scoda, Joanna Scotti, Cassidy Taylor, Monica Weiss and Julia Wescott. Fittingly, Lynskey came through with the lone goal for the Maroon and White.
"We've got eight great girls that have put a heck of a lot of work into the team and the program and it's a bittersweet time in a lot of ways. They're amazing people and have done a lot for the program, so I'm really glad we're moving on to the playoffs and giving them a chance to make the NCAA Tournament," Statham added. "We certainly need big performances from them, but I'm never surprised when they come up with big stuff."
Lynskey's tally opened the scoring late in the first half as sophomore Rebekka Arnthorsdottir found her on a long ball up the field in the 38th minute. The senior beat Colgate goalkeeper Kelly Chiavero to the ball and slotted a shot into the corner of the net while being tripped up for the advantage into the halftime break.
Unfortunately, that lead didn't hold up for long as a beautifully-taken free kick by Sarah Coy from about 25 yards out on the left side gave Lafayette keeper Kelly O'Brien no chance at a save. Coy's effort curled over the wall from right to left with a lot of pace and found the left-side netting off the fingertips of a diving O'Brien in the 50th minute to knot the game at one.
That goal energized the visiting side as much of the second half was played in Lafayette's defensive zone. The Raiders finally broke through for the game-winner in the 86th minute off a corner.
A Coy service was batted around the box and found the feet of Leah Lewis in the center. Instead of taking a shot through a pair of Lafayette defenders, Lewis dropped it off for Ginny Whitman, who sent a rocket past O'Brien for the go-ahead goal.
Shots finished at 18-8 in favor of the visitors, while the Raiders worked 10 corners compared to just one for the Maroon and White. Sedillo made five saves in a first-half shutout, while O'Brien made one save in her second half of work.
Tuesday will mark Lafayette's first playoff game since 2011 and the Leopards will look for their first Patriot League Tournament win in program history against their crosstown rivals. Lehigh defeated Lafayette earlier this season by a 1-0 margin on Oct. 19. Time is still to be determined for the tilt in Bethlehem, Pa., so continue to check in with GoLeopards.com for updates.
