The AU men’s soccer team remained undefeated in Patriot League play after defeating the Lafayette College Leopards on the road 2-1 in double overtime.
Sophomore Alassane Kane notched the game-winning goal in the 101st minute of play, giving him his Patriot League-leading sixth goal of the season. AU’s Seth Goldman opened scoring with his second goal of the season, followed by a Lafayette goal by Blake Fink 18-minutes later.
“I am happy for our guys that we were able to battle for a tough road win,” AU Head Coach Todd West told AU Athletics. “From [goalie Matt] Makowski to our back four, along with the midfielders and forwards, it was a great defensive team effort. Alassane came up huge with a goal in OT to deliver a great conference road win.”
Makowski made three saves and Lafayette goalkeeper Andrew Pianko made one during a scoreless first half. The Eagles held a 7-0 advantage in first-half corner kicks while the Leopards outshot AU 6-3, but neither team was able to score a first-half goal.
Four minutes into the second half, AU took a 1-0 lead after a Goldman header off a Jamie Davin cross. Goldman’s second goal of the season makes him tied for second on the team, while Davin recorded his team-high sixth assist.
But Lafayette responded with the tying goal shortly after.
Neither team could score the game-winning goal in regulation, and the match went to overtime deadlocked at one. In the opening 10-minute session of overtime, each team registered a corner kick and one shot, but neither side could provide the breakthrough goal.
Just 39 seconds into the second OT, Kane scored the game-winner off a pass from Ryan Morales to give AU the 2-1 victory.
For the contest, Lafayette outshot AU 18-11, while the Eagles held a 10-3 advantage in corner kicks. Makowski totaled six saves while Pianko had three for the Leopards.
Saturday’s match marked the sixth straight time that AU and Lafayette have needed extra time to decide the game. With the victory, the Eagles have now won each of the last two seasons in double OT, while the previous three contests resulted in draws.
The victory improves the Eagles to 6-5 overall and gives them their second straight 3-0 start in conference play. The loss drops Lafayette to 5-4-2 on the season and 1-2 in the Patriot League.
AU will next play at the University of Pennsylvania Tuesday before resuming conference play Oct. 16 with a match against the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen.
ttomea@theeagleonline.com
