The men’s soccer team (3-3-2 overall, 0-1 Patriot League) played its first Patriot League game against Colgate this past Saturday, followed by another out-of-conference game against Albany on Tuesday.
The game against Colgate was a stalemate until the 63rd minute when the Raiders were able to chip a shot into the back of the net. Lafayette was unable to respond and the score remained 1-0 as the final whistle blew.
The Leopards had a promising offensive showing on the stat sheet, with 10 shots (five on goal). The Raiders comparatively had two shots with one on goal. However, the Maroon and White were unable to capitalize on their opportunities.
Junior forward Lawrence Aydlett finished the game with four shots, and first-year forward Roy Biegon and senior forward Hale Lombard each had two, respectively.
“I felt as though we outplayed them, we outshot them and had better chances, but we gave up a preventable goal off of a corner,” Aydlett said.
The team kept the pressure up against the Raiders to minimize its deficit.
“[Junior forward] Andrey McIntyre did very well. Coming off the bench he created two opportunities for us that were two of the best chances we had all game,” junior midfielder Carter Houlihan said. “He provided sort of a spark for us, and boosted the team’s momentum.”
Houlihan noted how there has been a chemistry between the offense and defense to keep the ball up the field and minimize any shots from the opponents.
The Leopards continued on to face the Albany Great Danes last Tuesday. The Leopards struggled to maintain possession throughout the game and the Great Danes gradually wore them down, scoring once in the first half and twice in the second. The Leopards were unable to find the back of the net for a second straight game.
The team has maintained a positive attitude despite their losing streak, feeling more driven to secure victories in its upcoming games.
“In terms of [offense], statistically we’ve been doing very well,” Houlihan said. “We outshoot our opponents almost every game, and we typically have double-digit shots. Sometimes we don’t find the back of the net, but that’s something we’re working on.”
“That doesn’t take anything from defense, they’ve been doing their job all season long, coming to every practice and game ready to win,” Houlihan added. “Sometimes we don’t get the result that we want, but that’s an outcome faced by all of us.”
While the team did not return to Easton with a win against Albany, it had a total of nine shots and five saves by sophomore goalkeeper Eric Axtman. The game continued the trend of the team working as a united front.
Houlihan also noted that the players felt an early motivation to win the Patriot League Championship at the end of the season. While this goal may seem far down the line, the objective has instilled a drive and energy within the team.
“A real positive this season has been our culture and our buy-in. Everyone on the team has a like-minded goal of winning the Patriot League Championship, and everyone’s bought in to do that. We see it off the field, and on the field, more than we have in the past seasons,” Houlihan said.
The Leopards will be taking the pitch next against Lehigh tomorrow at 6 p.m. in Bethlehem.
Disclaimer: Assistant Sports Editor Eric Ponieman ‘24 is a member of the men’s soccer team. He did not contribute writing or reporting.
