The men’s soccer team logged two wins following two draws to begin the year, first beating the Siena Saints in a whopping 4-1 victory featuring a hat trick from senior captain Hale Lombard, then taking down Le Moyne 3-1.
Lombard kicked off the action in the 16th minute when he intercepted the ball from one of Siena’s center backs and mowed down defenders as he escaped towards the net. His ball found the far-side netting, giving the Leopards a 1-0 lead.
Lombard completed his first-half hat trick by scoring in the 25th and 36th minutes, taking his career goal total to 26. His contributions were the only three on the scoreboard in the first half, as the score remained 3-0 heading into halftime.
Siena came out swinging after the break, desperate to trim the deficit. In the 48th minute, Siena fired a bullet into the back of the net and did just that.
The Leopards made another addition to the scoreboard in the 64th minute. First-year midfielder Beaux Lizewski recorded his first collegiate goal as he made a run to the back post when junior forward Lawrence Aydlett set him up with a header back across Siena’s goal. Lizewski kept the ball alive, circumnavigating his way into the penalty area. The ball took a deflection and found its way into the goal to give the Maroon and White a 4-1 lead, keeping the Saints at bay.
Lizewski noted that scoring his first collegiate goal “meant a whole lot.”
“At this point in my career, I didn’t expect to get a lot of playing time,” Lizewski said. “So it definitely feels great to be able to contribute to the team by getting a goal.”
This was the first game in which Lafayette scored four goals since 2019 when it faced Siena in its season opener.
Lombard attributes the team’s success to impressive transitional play as well as aggressive offensive play.
“What we knew we could take advantage of was the fact that we were good in transitions,” Lombard said. “[Siena] struggled defending in transitions, which we were able to take advantage of. We have also been battling for every ball. Everyone has been able to scrap for first and second balls which has helped us.”
The Leopards extended this momentum in Tuesday’s matchup against Le Moyne at Gummeson Grounds when they beat the Dolphins 3-1.
Aydlett had the best opportunity of the first half for the Leopards but came up empty. He found himself with room on the left side of Le Moyne’s penalty area, and attempted a left-footed shot that was deflected out for a Lafayette corner kick.
In the 42nd minute, Le Moyne made the first addition to the scoreboard off a cross. The remainder of the first half consisted of a battle in midfield by both teams. Going into the break, the score remained 1-0 in Le Moyne’s favor.
In the second half, the Leopards found their rhythm. Just four minutes into the half, Lafayette won a penalty kick which Lombard propelled into the top right corner of the goal.
In the 76th minute, first-year forward Roy Biegon provided the Leopards with the go-ahead goal — the first of his collegiate career. Sophomore midfielder Connor DeAngelis found Biegon gliding into the box, and Biegon kept the ball under control and hammered home a left-footed effort from eight yards out.
The Leopards put the game away in the 86th minute. Lombard was awarded a penalty and handed the penalty kick opportunity over to senior teammate David Mizrahi, who casually slided the ball to the exact spot Lombard did a half hour earlier to stretch the Pards’ lead to two goals, bringing the score to 3-1.
Tuesday night’s victory brings Lafayette’s record to 2-0-2, leaving the Leopards undefeated on the season with two draws. They hope to maintain this momentum as they prepare for the rest of the season.
“We just need to stay locked in on our tactics and the information the coaches give us in their scouting of the other team,” Lombard said. “Taking advantage of their weaknesses and our strengths will help us achieve what we want to.”
The Leopards are looking to take this winning momentum into Patriot League play, which begins next Saturday against Colgate.
“Obviously, [the goal is] to win the Patriot League, and going undefeated,” Lizewski said. “I don’t think any other mindset would be valid and just. Every time we step out onto the field, our mindset is to win each and every game.”
The Maroon and White will be back on the pitch at 6 p.m. tomorrow where they will face the Binghamton Bearcats on the road.
Assistant Sports Editor Eric Ponieman ’24 is a member of the men’s soccer team. He did not contribute writing or reporting.
