HAMILTON – Colgate's Cinderella season came to an end here Friday with a 2-0 loss to Lehigh in the Patriot League tournament.

The Raiders, picked seventh in the preseason, earned the right to host Friday's semifinal match after claiming the regular season championship. Six straight Patriot League wins to end the schedule lifted Colgate to a 7-2 conference record and tons of momentum heading into the tourney.

But Friday at Beyer-Small '76 Field, Lehigh struck for two first-half goals and made them stand to advance to Sunday's final.

The Raiders finished out the season at 10-7-2 and have a lot to be proud of. They clinched the Patriot League Regular Season crown for the first time since 2010 and placed six student-athletes on the all-league team. One of those six was major award winner and offensive player of the year Ethan Kutler. Colgate also saw head coach Erik Ronning named the 2015 coach of the year after leading the Raiders to their first winning season in four years.

 
Colgate jump-started its attack early with a great chance from rookie Tim Oberg, but his attempt sailed just high over the crossbar.
 
A few minutes later Lehigh pulled ahead on only its second shot of the match following a free kick. Jamie Luchini sent a low cross into the 18-yard box, where Ben Davis was able to flick it on toward the back post. Waiting was Mark Forrest, who put it away for the one-goal edge.
 
Kutler tried to equalize in the 22nd minute but the Mountain Hawks defense came up with the brilliant block to keep it away from frame.
 
Less than three minutes later, the visitors created a two-goal gap when Luchini found the back of the net on a header. Doyle Tuvesson played a solid cross from the left side of the field right to the head of Luchini on six-yard line.  
 
Battling a two-goal deficit, the Raiders would not let up.
 
Sophomore Troy Moo Penn launched a driven shot on target that forced goalie Joe Bogan to make a diving save.
 
Then right before the break, rookie Uyiosa Omorogbe had a great chance for Colgate off a header but again Bogan was there to deny the Raiders.
 
The game was back-and-forth for much of the early part of the second period.
 
Junior captain Zach Tamen nearly cut the deficit in half when he came jumping up on a crossed ball, looking to redirect it with his head. Unfortunately, another save from Bogan stiffed any Raider chances of breaking through.
 
In the final 20 minutes the Raiders fired six shots to the Mountain Hawks' one but weren't able to find the back of the net.
 
Colgate finished the match slightly outshooting Lehigh 11-10, but the Mountain Hawks held the edge on shots on goals at 5-4.
 
Ricky Brown pushed aside three shots in the contest, while Bogan compiled four saves.
 
BOTTOM LINE
• Lehigh 2, Colgate 0

WON-LOST RECORDS
• Lehigh (12-5-3) advances to the Patriot League championship game with the win.
• Colgate closes out its season with a record of 10-7-2.

KEY RAIDER INFO
• Colgate was led by first-year Aram Ouligian, who registered a team-high three shots in the contest.
• Kutler and Moo Penn chipped in two shots each, while four other Raider players recorded one each.
• Brown posted three stops and finished the season with 72 season saves.

FACTS & FIGURES
• The Raiders tallied 11 shots to the Mountain Hawks' 10.   
• Lehigh held the slight edge on shots on goal by a 5-4 count.   
• Brown compiled three saves, while Bogan registered four.
• Ouligian notched a team-best three shots, one of which was on frame.
• Kutler and Moo Penn weren't far behind with two shots apiece.
• Colgate was issued the game's only yellow card.
 
FROM THE SOURCE
• Colgate Head Coach Erik Ronning: (on the game) "It was a memorable season, one that we can build on moving forward.
 
"I would like to thank the senior class for their contributions to Colgate Soccer over their four years. We would not have had the season we had without them, and they leave this program in a better place than when they arrived."

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM