HAMILTON – All season the Colgate men's soccer team has focused on securing back-to-back Patriot League titles. Starting tomorrow, they can make that happen.

The Raiders head into Friday's Patriot League Tournament as the third seed with a record of 5-7-6 and 3-1-3 in conference. The tournament returns to Reeves Field in Washington, D.C., on the campus of American University for the second straight season.

Colgate defeated American a year ago to grab its fifth PL title. The Raiders have won three of the last five championships, including back-to-back titles in 2007-08.

Before Colgate advances to its sixth Patriot League Championship game they must get past a very tough Lafayette squad, sitting at 7-7-4 and 3-1-3 in conference play. The Leopards are led by midfielder Alec Golini, who earned first-team All-League honors after finishing in the top-10 in goals (6) and points (13). Goalkeeper Nathan McDonald has a 7-4-3 record with a 1.02 goals-against average while stopping 72.2 percent of shots kicked his way. His six shutouts are tied for the League lead with American's Billy Knutsen.

Patriot League Tournament
Colgate has been one of the League's most successful programs of late, capturing three championships in the last five years, including the 2011 title. The Raiders secured last year's championship with a 2-0 win over host American in the finals.

Last year for the first time in tournament history, both semifinal contests went scoreless through 110 minutes of play, forcing both to require penalty kicks. In the end, it was host American and No. 2 seed Colgate that advanced to the championship final. After 45 scoreless minutes it appeared they could be headed to extra time yet again.

But Mike Garzi's diving header in the 70th minute and Mike Reidy's insurance marker in the 83rd propelled the Raiders to the 2011 League title and NCAA Tournament. Colgate's Steven Miller '12 was named Tournament MVP.

The Raiders might have lost their leading scorer from a year ago in Miller, but they have had a dominant 2012 season so far from seniors Reidy, Garzi and Shane Conlin.

Reidy has seven goals total and three game-winners, both League bests. He has scored four times and had two assists for 10 points against League opponents this season. This year Reidy was selected to the first-team All-League while also being named PL Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the second straight Raider to claim the major honor. Miller, who now serves as the current assistant coach, was named to the award last season.

Sophomore Evan Heroux was also tabbed to the All-League First Team after he scored two goals this season, grabbing the game winner against Hartwick. Five players have notched five or more points so far with Garzi (second team All-League with 3 goals, 2 assists), Conlin (2 goals, 3 assists), Tyler Forbes (3 goals) and Patrick Letourneau (2 goals, 1 assist) all following Reidy in the standings.

Also making an impact this year is sophomore Liam Stapleton, who earned second-team All-League honors at goalkeeper after finishing the regular season fourth with a 1.21 goals-against average. He's made 14 appearances this season with one shutout and has recorded four of the Raiders' five wins.

Senior Captain Wade Martin has also made a bang this year starting every game and grabbing one assist on the year. He is one of Colgate's key players and earned himself a second team All-League honor.

The Raiders take on Lafayette on Friday at 2 p.m. in the second semifinal game. The first semifinal matchup will be between host American (10-5-2) and Bucknell (7-7-5) at 11 a.m. The Championship game takes place Sunday at 1 p.m.

All three tournament contests will be streamed via Patriot League All-Access.For more information abut the weekend, log onto patriotleague.org.