COLGATE ATHLETICS : MEN'S SOCCER : RELEASES

COLGATE DROPS THIRD STRAIGHT TO BIG RED RIVAL

September 30, 2000

by Yariv Amir, Colgate Student Assistant

HAMILTON, N.Y. - The Colgate men’s soccer team battled to a 1-1 double-overtime tie against Lehigh University in Patriot League action Saturday night.

Colgate jumped on top early when senior midfielder Conor Harrison beat Lehigh goalkeeper Ryan Grzeszczak for his third goal of the season at 3:07. The play developed as Harrison fed junior midfielder Colyer Curtis just inside the midfield line. Curtis then returned the ball to Harrison who dribbled up to the 18 before sending a shot across the box, finding the net just inside of the far post.

The score would remain 1-0 as the teams headed to the half, despite Lehigh applying intense pressure on the Red Raider defense. Freshmen goalkeeper Jon Brunell made eight saves in the first half, keeping Lehigh off the scoreboard.

Lehigh kept up the offensive pressure as the second half began, firing 18 shots at the net in the half. At 65:05, senior defender Matt Renner received his first yellow card of the game. Just 7:46 later, he received his second card, forcing Colgate to play with a man down for the remainder of the game.

Colgate was able to keep Lehigh at bay until a defensive mishap at 74:33, when a Lehigh defender fired a volley towards the Colgate net. Brunell came out to play the ball, but one of the Colgate defenders was there and misplayed the ball over Brunell’s head. Brunell and Lehigh forward Evan Bruno chased down the ball and Bruno beat him to the ball sliding it over the line for his 11^th goal of the season.

The score remained tied as the two teams headed into overtime, where each team had excellent scoring opportunities. Lehigh’s best opportunity came at 106:36 when Brunell got a piece of Lehigh midfielder Andrew Casey’s shot that then bounced off the cross-bar.

Colgate’s best chance came when freshmen defender Brian McDermitt blasted a shot off a pass from senior Brendan Skonieczki. McDermitt’s shot traveled through a screen, but just sailed wide of the Lehigh goal.

Brunell completed the game making 19 saves and allowing just one goal. Grzeszczak made three saves in the game, also allowing one goal.

Colgate returns to action this Wednesday when they travel to Albany for a non-conference matchup at 3 p.m.