HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/28/06) – The Colgate University men’s soccer team clinched the No. 3 seed in the 2006 Patriot League Tournament after a 6-2 victory over Holy Cross on Van Doren Field on Saturday, Oct. 28.

 

The two teams traded goals in the first, ending the half at 2-2 before Colgate went on a four-goal run in the second session.

 

Captain Eli Meyers (Pittsburgh, Pa.) collected his first goal of the season at 4:03 into the contest when he beat goalkeeper Thomas Booth at the inside post on the right side. 

 

Holy Cross evened the game at 13:04 when Andreas Andrews’ corner kick found the foot of Felipe Castrillion who put it to the back of the net.

 

Just over two minutes later, Devin Deane (Oswego, N.Y.) sent a long pass up the field to Eric Anton (Tacoma, Wash.).  Anton went one-on-one with Booth and beat him with a blast to the left corner netting at 15:43.

 

Castrillon tallied the equalizer when he chipped goalkeeper David Cappuccio (Pittsford, N.Y.) at 21:05.  Andrews was credited with the assist as the teams headed into the locker room at 2-2.

 

The Raiders entered the second half with renewed confidence, going on a four-goal run.  Freshman Justin Burney (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) sent an endline cross to Chris Ross (Hurst, Texas) who tapped in the ball at the far right corner for his first collegiate goal, giving Colgate the unrelinquished lead at 48:59.

 

Matt Leach (New Canaan, Conn.) came off the bench and within four minutes put the Raiders up 5-2.  William Batson (Augusta, Ga.) ran up the left side of the field and sent the ball up the field to Alex Weekes (Stroudsburg, Pa.).  Weekes sent a cross to Leach on the right side and knocked it past Booth at 71:20

 

Leach added his second marker of the game at 79:26 when he headed in a Weekes pass.  Weekes picked up a Deane ball and ran down the right flank, crossed the ball into the center of the field where Leach headed it past David LeBar who came in on relief for Booth.

 

Anton finished the scoring for the Raiders at 84:52 as he captured a through ball that came from the defensive zone.  Anton's fancy foot work gave him a clean shot that sailed to the lower left corner.

 

Colgate’s six goals is the most goals the Raiders have scored since its 8-1 win over Army on Nov. 8 in the team’s final game of the 2003 season.

 

Cappuccio earned the win with zero saves in the game.  Booth had four saves and allowed four, while LeBar allowed two and did not make a save.

 

Colgate outshot Holy Cross 18-8 in the contest, including a six-shot margin in the first half.  The Raiders had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.

 

The Raiders will take on No. 2 seed Lafayette in the Patriot League semifinals held on the campus of Lehigh on Nov. 3.  Colgate defeated Lafayette 2-1 on Sept. 23 in Hamilton.  Game time is to be determined.