ANNAPOLIS, Md.- The Lafayette men's soccer team drew 0-0 with Navy on Wednesday night in its final regular-season match of 2023. This result means that both teams have secured post-season berths. Lafayette clinched the third seed in the Patriot League tournament and will host the American Eagles on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Junior goalkeeper Griffin Huff made a routine save in the first 45 seconds of the match to begin the proceedings.

Navy created its first quality chance of the evening in the 14^th minute. A.J. Schuetz picked up the ball on the left flank before he danced his way past three Lafayette defenders. The forward slipped Andrew Schug through on goal, but his effort rippled into the side netting of Huff's goal.

Just a few minutes later, the Leopards almost took the lead. Junior Lawrence Aydlett had collected the ball on the right side of the field during a long spell of possession for the Maroon and White. Aydlett saw senior captain Hale Lombard making a run into the channel and fed him the ball down the line. Lombard's first-time squared pass found the feet of junior Carter Houlihan, but the North Wales, Pa. native couldn't make solid contact.

With five minutes to play in the first half, Lafayette began to throw a few extra men forward. Junior fullback Connor Dawson was on the half-turn as he spotted Lombard streaking toward the penalty spot. His left-footed service was just too high, but it required a punch from Mids goalkeeper Pierce HolBrook.

Neither team could break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes of play.

Within the first 30 seconds of the second half, Lombard took a left-footed strike from 30 yards out but his shot ended up high and wide.

Navy held the majority of the possession in the first 15 minutes of the final 45.

Lafayette's golden chance of the match came in the 60^th minute. After Navy had cleared away the previous corner, senior Benji Grossi stood over the ball once again. Grossi's service beat the first man and found the head of Houlihan at the back stick. His header beat HolBrook, but a Mids' defender made a spectacular play to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line completely.

When the final whistle blew, the match ended in a scoreless draw.


The Leopards are back in action on Saturday to host the first round of the Patriot League Tournament against American.