Lafayette (4-3-6, 2-3 PL) scored 22 minutes into the match when Erik Cannon ‘14 passed to Ryan Egan ‘17 in the middle of the field who then found Jeff McLaughlin ‘14 slanting towards the goal. McLaughlin bounced the ball off his chest and right-footed it past the BU goalkeeper into the net.
That goal proved to be the game-winner but Lafayette scored 20 minutes later to seal the deal. Bryan White ‘14 placed a ball at the top of the six-yard box that Tom McCutcheon ‘15 headed into the corner of the net for his first score of the season and third career goal.
“The team has been playing better over the last few weeks so it was nice to see the progress on the scoreboard,” Head Coach Dennis Bohn said. “I am confident it will continue.”
Lafayette was shutout in two straight games against Holy Cross and Navy prior to playing BU (4-8-1, 1-4 PL). Bohn em – phasized there was no change of strategy following the two shutouts.
“We did nothing differently,” Bohn said. “We are just working hard in practice and staying positive.”
The defense, meanwhile, was crisp as usual and continued to improve upon its average of allow – ing just .69 goals per game. The shutout against BU was the team’s sixth this season.
“Our team is very fundamentally sound, mentally focused, and works hard to prepare for each opponent,” Bohn said. “These traits normally lead to success on the defensive side of the ball in our sport.”
It was Lafayette goalkeeper Nathan McDonald’s seventeenth shutout of his career.
Lafayette held a 14-11 advan – tage in shots while both teams had five corner shots.
The victory is welcomed as it comes on the heels of down-to- the-wire game against Navy. All tied through 86 minutes, Navy scored off a loose ball in the box and then added another goal in the midst of Lafayette’s urgency to tie in the few minutes that re – mained.
Lafayette plays tomorrow in Washington, D.C. against American University in a rematch of the 2012 Patriot League Championship game. Game time is set for 1 p.m.