Photos by Ally Hill ‘15|Photo Editor
It was a good news, bad news kind of week for the Lafayette men’s soccer team, who faced St. Peter’s on Wednesday and Quinnipiac on Saturday.
The good news was that the Leopards held their opponents to just a single goal in two games. The bad news was that a single goal was all the Leopards could manage themselves, though they earned a couple of ties in the process. Coach Bohn expressed his team’s successes on defense this season after the game against Quinnipiac.
“I think we are playing well defensively but need to improve our possession as the season moves forward,” said Bohn.
When the Maroon and White faced St. Peter’s at Jersey City’s Jaroschak Field in their first road contest of the young season, they expected a hard-fought game and they got what they expected.
After senior forward Jeff McLaughlin’s one-on-one bid for a tally was snared by St. Peter’s goalkeeper Carlos Suarez in the early going, scoring opportunities became few and far between. In the 83rd minute, forward Peter Adubato ‘14 got the Lafayette fans to their feet when he won a 50-50 ball and drove for the goal unimpeded. However, Suarez foiled this attempt too as he came out to challenge the shot and deflected it off the outside of the far post.
In overtime the action picked up, with McLaughlin sending in a header off an senior Alec Golini’s corner kick and sophomore Nate Arronson right-footing a long shot that found its way through the St. Peter’s defense. However, the first effort was thwarted by a St. Peter’s defender and the second was finally grabbed by Suarez. The result was 0-0, Lafayette senior goalie Nathan MacDonald’s 12th career shutout.
The Quinnipiac contest featured a pre-game ceremony in which Lafayette celebrated its hundredth season of men’s soccer. Director of Athletics Bruce McCutcheon welcomed to the field a large number of soccer alumni as part of the festivities. Among them were Dr. Wilbur Oaks ‘51, a member and eventually co-captain of the ’47-’50 teams that helped to bring varsity soccer back to Lafayette after the program was put aside during the United States’ involvement in World War II.
In the match against Quinnipiac, both teams’ tallies came in the 85th minute of play. On Lafayette’s side, Adubato opened the door with a shot on goal that was deflected by Quinnipiac goalkeeper Borja Angoitia. Ryan Dodds ’14 charged in and followed with a shot of his own but that too was knocked away. It wasn’t until McLaughlin boomed the rebound into the top of the net that the Leopards had something to show for their efforts.
But the Lafayette lead didn’t last long. 23 seconds later, Quinnipiac found the net too. Overtime was unproductive and the final score was 1-1.
“It was an even game,” said Head Soccer Coach Dennis Bohn. “We scored late but are disappointed to give up the tying goal so quickly. However, we did keep our composure and were able to get a result.”
Bohn noted that the Leopards are active on the offensive end but need to capitalize on their hard work. “We are creating a large amount of opportunities and need to get more efficient in those situations,” he said.
Significantly, the team’s seniors have scored or assisted on four of the five goals the team has logged this season. “I am really happy with our senior class,” Bohn said. “They have been working hard in practice and playing well in our games. As a group they are leading us on and off the field.”
Lafayette goes on a two-game trip against Ivy League opponents Dartmouth and Harvard on the 13th and the 15th respectively.
