EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette responded to a Holy Cross goal late in regulation with one of their own to salvage a 1-1 draw in a Patriot League afternoon contest at Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium.

After Crusader senior forward Tyler Bell took a pass from midfielder Bobby Barsic to net his first goal of the season in the 79th minute, the Leopards responded with the equalizer less than three minutes later.

Junior midfielder Ryan Goncalves made a deep run down the right side and sent a cross into the box which junior midfielder Chris Gomez parlayed into his fourth goal of the season into the left side of the net past Holy Cross goalkeeper Henry Stutz. Gomez' goal ties him with junior forward James Gibson for the most on the team thus far in the 2018 season and Goncalves assist was his fifth, which leads the Patriot League.

"I thought we were getting end line alot, all game," said head coach Dennis Bohn. "We had the one opportunity in the first half that he (Goncalves) played to Conor O'Donnell and I thought we were getting really dangerous getting around the corner. You do that enough times in a game you probably are going to create some goals."

The Leopards had the better of possession over the first 45 minutes with the O'Donnell shot that was saved by Stutz and a couple of opportunities by Andrew Venezia and another by Gomez. The Crusaders played the hosts a bit more heads up before finally breaking through with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Before the dust had settled on the Holy Cross goal the Leopards struck right back for the equalizer. The teams then battled through the remainder of regulation and two 10 minute overtimes with just two shots apiece and none that found the net.

"It was great to get the one back and respond after we were down a goal," said Bohn. "It would have been nice to get the three points for a win but you take the result and move on."

Despite the one goal, Bohn was pleased with the way the defense played especially without junior captain Christian Williams. Freshman goalkeeper Alex Sutton was credited with two saves and Lafayette outshot the visitors 13-8.

With the tie the Leopards are now 4-3-2 and 0-1-1 in the Patriot League while Holy Cross is 2-3-4 and 1-0-1. Next up for Lafayette is a Patriot League road contest at Army West Point on Wednesday at 7 p.m. 

"I thought we responded in a really positive way after the loss at Bucknell," said Bohn. "Every game in the Patriot League is going to be difficult but every one is winnable. Hopefully we get a couple of guys healthy and come Wednesday night we are 1-1-1 after three games and that is a good spot to be in."