EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette College men's soccer team battled back from a 3-1 deficit to a 3-3 double overtime draw with non-conference opponent Saint Joseph's Tuesday night at Oaks.
The Leopards were led by senior
Max Ippolito, junior
Benji Grossi and junior
Hale Lombard who each netted a goal. Grossi also totaled an assist in the game, along with sophomore
Jon Ford and freshman
Eoin Martin.
Freshman goalkeeper
Griffin Huff made his collegiate debut on Tuesday, playing all 110 minutes of action and recording six saves.
Ippolito struck first for Lafayette (7-4-2, 3-1-1 PL) in just the third minute of action to quickly put the Leopards up 1-0. Saint Joseph's (5-8-1, 3-2 A10) responded 15 minutes later, in the 18
th minute with a goal of its own to tie the game at 1-1. The Hawks were then awarded a second goal in the 23
rd minute to make it 2-1.
The Hawks quickly added another goal at the start of the second half to push their lead out to two.
It was Grossi who helped jump start the Leopards as he put in his second goal of the season in the 57
th minute to pull the Leopards within one. Lombard followed up Grossi's goal six minutes later with his fourth goal of the season to tie the game up at 3-3.
Saint Joseph's looked as if it might find the game-winner in the 89
th minute but a huge save by Huff kept the game tied at 3-3, forcing overtime.
Saint Joseph's had the lone chance in the first 10 minutes of overtime but once again, Huff came up with a big save to keep the game in a tie and forcing the second overtime period.
Each side had an opportunity to net the golden goal in the final 10 minutes but neither could find a way passed the opposing side's defense as the game ended in a 3-3 draw.
Tuesday night's game marked the fourth overtime game the Leopards have played so far this season. Of those overtime games, three have been at Oaks.
The Maroon and White return to Patriot League action on Saturday in Bethlehem, as they are set to take on crosstown rival Lehigh at 6 p.m. They will then stay on the road for their final non-conference test of the season, traveling to Hempstead, New York, to take on Hofstra.
