Sept. 20, 2016
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - For the first time since 2012, the Lafayette men's soccer team has scored multiple goals in three consecutive games, using a pair of second-half tallies from freshmen to knock off La Salle on Tuesday evening, 2-1.
On Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium, the Leopards fell into a 1-0 hole just before the halftime break, but rookies Evan Vare and Adam Bramson were able to connect with a pair of seniors in Ryan Egan and Ben Marks to complete the comeback and give Lafayette its third straight victory. The win moves the Maroon and White to 3-4 on the year overall heading into Saturday's Patriot League home opener against Loyola.
"We were playing at too slow of a pace early, but we dictated the pace in the second half and played a little more direct," head coach Dennis Bohn said. "The boys brought the aggressiveness that was necessary tonight."
That aggressiveness showed in the final box score as Lafayette led in shots 14-9 and corners, 8-6, a spot in which all three goals in the game originated. Junior netminder Brad Seeber stopped four shots on the night to grab his third win of the year, while La Salle's Cameron Keys, making his first start this season, came up with three saves in defeat.
The game was an up-and-down style and entertaining throughout as both teams worked a number of offensive chances with creativity throughout the pitch. Lafayette kicked it off in just the second minute when Bramson played a ball over the top of the La Salle defense and onto a streaking Dylan Royalty toward the right side of the box. Royalty, with just the keeper to beat, albeit at a sharp angle, sent his effort just outside the far left post to get the game underway.
Less than 10 minutes later, the Explorers presented a threatening sequence. Sixtus Akinlosotu found space up the middle and sent a scorching shot on target that had to be tipped over the goal line for a corner by Seeber. On the ensuing chance, Pat McCarthy was able to work free for a header, but knocked it down and right at Seeber for the comfortable save.
After about 20 minutes of action, the first goal game in the 37th minute from the visiting side. Off a corner service by Tony Daniele, Coleman Kennedy's run toward the near post beat the Lafayette defense as his header found its way inside the right boundary for the opening goal.
The score remained at 1-0 in favor of La Salle through the halftime break before Lafayette came out in the second half determined to find an equalizer. Marks dribbled around three defenders in the 50th minute before firing a shot just high above where the left post meets the crossbar, proving Lafayette's hunt was forthcoming.
In the 66th and 67th minutes, the Leopards were able to manufacture the tying marker. Egan beat a pair of La Salle defenders down the right side and sent a cross in the box for Vare. Vare's original header was saved by Keys, but a bobble allowed the freshman to get another shot off, which was also saved but out for a corner. Then, the Egan-to-Vare combination worked as the senior found the freshman on the far side for a header into the top left corner, the first goal at home for Lafayette this season.
Vare was inches from his second goal of the night about 10 minutes later when a misplay by the keeper left him with the ball at his feet on the left side of the box and only a defender standing in the net to beat. Unfortunately, his shot rang off the left post and out of play.
That didn't prove costly, though, as Bramson's winner came about four minutes later. Again off a corner, this time from Marks, Bramson won a header back toward the near post for the deciding tally.
"Coach yelled at me and told me to make a play, and that lit a fire inside of me," Bramson said. "I got the adrenaline pumping and once I saw the ball coming my way, I knew it was going in the back of the net."
The Leopard defense was able to hold off a late rally from the Explorers and walk away with its first comeback victory of the season with a 2-1 final.
The Maroon and White will hope to use this win as momentum into the league opener on Saturday. Opening kick with Loyola is set for 1 p.m.
