EASTON, Pa. – Set pieces were the story in the Lafayette men's soccer team's 4-2 victory over non-conference foe Stony Brook on Tuesday night at Gummeson Grounds: Home of Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium.

The visitors got off to a hot start, taking the lead in the second minute. Caleb Danquah picked up the ball 30 yards from Lafayette's goal before driving towards its penalty area. Danquah wasted no time, firing a powerful left-footed strike that beat junior goalkeeper Eric Axtman to his bottom left corner.

Six minutes later the Leopards responded with back-to-back goals. Freshman defender Anthony Durling stood over a free kick just inside Lafayette's attacking half before he served a ball into the box. Sophomore center half Cole Duschang beat his man at the back post, nodding home his second goal of the campaign in the eighth minute.

Center back partner Nicholas Liebich got on the scoresheet in the 10^th minute off of a very similar set piece to Duschang's goal. Duschang won the initial header at the back post that required a quality save out of Seawolves' goalkeeper Rushton Sandy. Liebich was the first player to react, lashing home his second goal of the season on the half volley.

After an action-packed first 10 minutes, the game began to settle right before the Maroon and White struck again. Axtman collected a Stony Brook corner kick and slung the ball out wide where senior forward Andrey McIntyre was ready to counter. The Hanover, Jamaica native traveled over 60 yards with the ball, beating two defenders, before his measured toe poke beat Sandy at his near post. Axtman was credited with his first career assist.

Stony Brook reduced its deficit to one goal (3-2) in the 44^th minute. The visitors won back-to-back freekicks just 20 yards from the Leopards' goal, allowing Trevor Harrison a good look on goal. His clinical effort trickled under Lafayette's wall and beat Axtman to his bottom-left.

After a physical and intense first half, the Leopards led 3-2.

The second half was certainly less eventful, but the Seawolves were on the front foot to begin the half. Lafayette outshot Stony Brook 8-7 in the first half, but the Seawolves won the second half, tallying five more shots (7-2). The Leopards struggled to get out of their own half, conceding three shots and three corners in the first five minutes.

Despite Lafayette's slow start, the hosts scored on their first chance of the second half in the 75^th minute to seal the match. Freshman midfielder Cade Maglione released McIntyre down the line, who had a full head of steam. McIntyre then beat his man to the byline and fizzed a ball across the box where sophomore forward Roy Biegon was waiting to tap home his sixth goal of the season.

The Leopards controlled the majority of play in the last 10 minutes and at the final whistle Lafayette advanced to 7-5-3 on the year.

The Leopards return to Gummeson Grounds at 1 p.m. on Saturday to face Loyola on Senior Day.
 

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