HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/21/06) – John O’Reilly scored off a direct kick in the 63rd minute to lead Lehigh University to a 1-0 win over Colgate University on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Van Doren Field.
After a scoreless first half that saw Lehigh take five shots to Colgate’s three
Kevin Toomey (Syracuse, N.Y.) was fouled just outside the 18-yard box. John O’Reilly set up and lofted the ball over the Raider wall towards the net. The ball took a hop near the goal line and bounced up under the cross bar as
David Cappuccio (Pittsford, N.Y.) was backing up into the netting at 62:08.
The goal ended Cappuccio’s shutout streak at 898:03, just 1:58 shy of becoming the NCAA leader in shutout minutes. He now sits second in consecutive shutout minutes behind SMU’s Randy Phillips with 900 minutes set during 1980.
Sensing the urgency Colgate turned on the offense in the final 10 minutes, challenging keeper Jim Morahan.
Justin Burney had a great opportunity as he redirected a header and a scramble ensued inside the box before the Mountain Hawks defense kicked the ball away.
A direct kick about 30 yards out turned into two consecutive chances for Colgate but the final shot went just wide of the net.
The game took a physical turn in the second half with two yellows being called minutes apart, one on each squad. Colgate’s
Daniel Kerley (Leawood, Kan.) was given a red card at 79:29 after receiving two yellows, turning Colgate’s chances into evening up the game that much tougher being a man down.
Despite outshooting the Mountain Hawks, 8-4, the Raiders couldn’t record the equalizer as Lehigh earned the Patriot League regular-season title and hosting rights for the Patriot League Tournament.
Cappuccio made two saves in his first loss of his collegiate career, while Morahan made seven stops for his 10th shutout of the season.
The Raiders travel to Brown University on Tuesday, Oct. 24 for their final non-conference match of the season. Colgate returns to Van Doren Field on Saturday, Oct. 28 when they host Holy Cross at 7 p.m.
