EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette men's soccer took on Bryant Saturday evening at Bierne Stadium, resulting in a 1-0 victory for the hosts. Fernando Delgado scored the Bulldogs' sole goal in the 19^th minute.

The first opportunity of the match fell to the hosts in the third minute. Mamadi Jiana ran through on goal after a long ball from a Bryant defender, outpacing his marker. The forward's strike required a quality save from senior goalkeeper Eric Axtman that kept the contest scoreless.

Bryant maintained a majority of the game's early possession and it had another half chance in the seventh minute. Jiana once again beat his man to the byline, but his shot from the left channel trickled wide. Marc Pitarch Bayot had a chance to open the scoring in the 16^th minute. A Bulldog midfielder whipped the ball into the box and found the forward's head, but his header looped over the crossbar.

The hosts found their breakthrough in the 19^th minute. Lafayette had been defending well before it lost out on a second ball in its defensive third. Pitarch Bayot was first to react and his squared ball across the penalty area was emphatically finished home by Delgado. The Leopards continued to grow into the match after conceding, but Bryant continued to edge the battled in midfield. At the intermission, the Bulldogs held a 1-0 lead.

Muslim Umar found himself with some shooting space two minutes into the first half, but a Leopard defender threw himself in front of Umar's strike. The Bulldogs continued to accumulate half chances, however, the Leopards' back line held strong led by senior captains Nicholas Liebich and Axtman.

The Maroon and White's best chance of the game came in the 68^th minute. The visitors were clearing their defensive lines when a Leopard midfielder won his aerial duel in midfield. Their flicked header found a gambling Samir Dishnica who picked up the ball and strode towards goal. The Cheshire, Conn. native beat his man to the end line and squared a ball across the box, but Enzo Carvahlo commanded his penalty area well.

Axtman was called into action again in the 75^th minute, but he was up to the task of Augustine Boadi's effort. The Harrisburg, Pa. native finished the outing with six saves. Lafayette put Bryant under more duress in the final 10 minutes, but the hosts held on to a 1-0 win at the full-time whistle.

The Leopards now gear up for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Tuesday as they travel to Fordham for more non-conference action.
 

To keep up with the Lafayette men's soccer team, follow its social media pages.

X/@Lafayette_MSOC | Instagram/@lafayette_msoc | Facebook/GoLeopards