Box Score

BURLINGTON, Vt. (9/11/11) – Colgate men's soccer senior co-captains Steven Miller and Mike Reese scored a goal each to help the team defeat New Hampshire, 2-1, and win the Vermont Tournament on Sunday.

The Raiders completed the tournament with a perfect 2-0 record after defeating Vermont on Friday. Miller and Reese were named the tournament's offensive and defensive MVPs respectively, while junior goalkeeper Grant Reed and freshman Jimmy McLaughlin were named to the all-tournament team alongside the captains.

In the first half it was clear both teams wanted to take control of the game and find an early lead. As the game progressed, they began to generate offense on both ends of the field, but it was Colgate (4-0-1) that was able to find success first at the 18:37 mark. Junior Shane Conlin passed the ball to classmate Mike Reidy, who knocked it over to Miller. The senior then blasted it into the net to give his team a 1-0 lead. This marked the first time this season that the Raiders have scored a goal in the first half. The Wildcats did not hesitate to strike back, finding a goal less than three minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. The teams continued to battle it out on the field for the rest of the period, but by half time the score remained the same.

The second half was as even matched as the first. New Hampshire created the first real scoring opportunity just six minutes into play from a free kick that went just wide of the right post. The threat made the Raiders pick up their pacer, attacking New Hampshire's net just seconds later. Their attempt however, found the back of the net at the 51:51 mark when Reese headed the ball over the keeper into the top of the goal to reclaim the lead for Colgate. Both teams continued to play an attacking game, with the Raiders coming close to a third goal on a few occasions, but in the end they would have to settle with the 2-1 win.

This was also the first time that the team has won a game with two goals, increasing their unbeaten streak to five games.

Reed secured his fourth win of the season with three saves in the game, conceding only his second goal of the season.

“I am very proud of how we responded in the second half after a slow start,” stated head coach Erik Ronning. “Our players battled and found a way to win against a very difficult opponent.”

The team will resume play next weekend at the CU Classic next weekend. The Raiders will first host Hofstra on Friday, Sept. 16 before taking on LIU on Sunday, Sept. 18.