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HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/15/11) – The Colgate men's soccer team secured its second Patriot League win of the season on Saturday evening when it defeated Army 3-2 in overtime at Van Doren Field.
 
Despite holding an early lead in the first half and then scoring a second goal from a penalty kick in the second half, Army was able to come back and tie the game for the second time in the 85th minute to force it into overtime. Senior co-captain Steven Miller scored both goals in regulation time while junior Shane Conlin scored the third goal at the 97:18 mark to win the game.
 
Both teams came out to a slow start in the first half as they settled into the slick and windy conditions. As the half continued, the Black Knights created the first offensive opportunities with a pair of corner kicks but could not get a shot off. Then, after a foul about ten meters outside the box, Colgate (8-3-2, 2-1-1 PL) found its first chance on net, which resulted in the opening goal. Senior Mike Garzi took the free kick and lobbed it into the box to Miller who tipped it over the keeper with his head to give his team the 1-0 lead at the 16:07 mark. The early goal gave way to a more attacking half for the Raiders, who created some threatening opportunities in front of Army's net in search of a second goal. However, by the end of the first 45 minutes of play, Colgate maintained a one-goal lead.
 
Army then came out to an offensive start in the second half, finding the back of the net at the 48:01 mark with a long strike from the top of the box to tie the game at 1-1. Both teams continued to play hard as the game became more physical, and despite holding a shooting advantage the Raiders were unable to find a second goal. Then, in the 70th minute, an offensive break led to a series of shots, one of which hit a defender's hand in front of the net and resulted in a penalty kick for Colgate. Miller stepped up to the plate, firing the ball into the bottom left corner after sending the keeper the wrong way, to put the score at 2-1 at the 70:52 mark. The Raiders held the one-goal advantage throughout most of the half until the 86th minute when Army found the top left corner off another long strike to tie the game at 2-2 and send it into overtime.
 
The overtime period was as aggressive as the second half, with both teams fighting to score the game-winning goal. Colgate came close to an early goal with a header from Patrick Letourneau that went just wide of the frame in the 95th minute. The Black Knights then struck back, finding an open shot in front of the net a minute later, but it was blocked by a Colgate defender. The Raiders continued to generate their offense and eventually found the game winner at the 97:18 mark when freshman Jimmy McLaughlin dribbled down the left wing, cut into the center to beat his defender and then slipped it to Conlin on his left. Conlin picked up the pass and then fired it into the back of the net to give Colgate the 3-2 win.
 
Junior Grant Reed had two saves for the Raiders in the first 45 minutes of play while Army's John Marinelli had two stops in 90 minutes. Senior goalkeeper Chris Miller split time with Reed, defending the net in the second half and overtime period to earn his first win.
 
“Army came to play and gave us all we could handle,” stated head coach Erik Ronning. “I am proud of this group's resilience after giving up a late goal. It came down to making a play, and Shane and Jimmy connected for a great goal.”
 
Colgate will resume play next week with a road matchup against Binghamton on Tuesday, Oct., 18 at 7 p.m.