BALTIMORE – Steven DeLeo scored inside the six-minute mark and Colgate turned to its defense the rest of the way to secure its third consecutive Patriot League championship with a 1-0 victory over Army in the title match here Sunday at Loyola's Ridley Athletic Complex.
With the win, Colgate earns the Patriot League's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament and will find out its opponent and destination during the NCAA Selection Show, which is scheduled to air at 1 p.m. on Monday.
Colgate jumped out to an early lead just 5:51 into the match.
Freddy Jonsson dribbled down the right side and threaded the needle with a pass through multiple defenders into the center of the box. DeLeo beat Army keeper Justin Stoll to the loose ball in front and tapped it in for the early go-ahead goal.
Jacob Harris stood tall in net for the Raiders once again and registered his first save in the 17th minute. With Army picking up pressure, Christian Takaki cut in from the right side and struck a left-footed shot on net, but Harris was all over it to make a diving save inside the left post.
The Raider defense buckled down from there, allowing just one shot from outside the box and it was blocked before Colgate cleared away the threat.
Kian Alberto forced a save in the 44th minute but it was saved by Stoll as the two teams went into the locker room with the Raiders in front, 1-0.
Edward Bass had an early second-half chance for the Raiders but his near-post shot was turned away by Stoll.
Kentaro Morrison fired a shot just wide in the 64th minute and Alberto nearly doubled the Raiders' lead on an odd-man rush with 15 minutes left but his shot soared high with Colgate looking for the knockout blow.
With it still just a one-goal game, Army found life down the stretch, generating three unanswered shots and maintaining steady pressure over the final 12 minutes of regulation. Keenan O'Shea inserted a corner kick in the 80th minute that Christian Takaki redirected over the crossbar for one of Army's best chances.
Harris was stellar with the game on the line in the waning minutes, intercepting crosses and battling defenders for loose balls in the box. Colgate's junior keeper made his biggest save in the 84th minute, diving to his right to get his hands on a redirection from Zac McGraw at the left wing.
That proved to be the final opportunity as Colgate withstood the last Army rush and neutralized the pressure over the final two minutes to secure the 1-0 victory.
BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 1, Army 0
FOR THE RECORD
• Colgate improved its record to 12-4-5.
• The Raiders are now 7-0-1 all-time in league title matches.
• Army fell to 8-10-2 after the loss.
FROM THE SOURCE
• Colgate head coach
Erik Ronning:
"I am so proud of this team, and thankful to coach such a talented, hardworking group. It is hard to put into words what they have accomplished and what they mean to the Colgate men's soccer program. I cannot wait to start preparing for the next leg of our journey in the NCAA Tournament."
KEY RAIDER NOTES
• Colgate men's soccer is the first men's team in the history of Colgate Athletics to win three consecutive titles.
• Women's soccer won six straight from 1994-99 and women's tennis earned three straight titles from 1995-97 as the only other programs to win three in a row.
• The Raiders are the first team in Patriot League history to go back-to-back-to-back.
•
Oliver Harris (MVP),
Jacob Harris,
Kentaro Morrison, and
Christian Clarke represented Colgate on the All-Tournament Team.
• DeLeo's goal was his third of the season, first of the postseason, and fourth career tally.
• His last two goals have been game-winners.
• Jonsson recorded an assist for the second straight match.
BY THE NUMBERS
• Shots finished 10-7 in favor of Army, but shots on goal were even at 3-3.
• Corner kicks were also dead locked at 5-5.
• Colgate was called for 12 fouls, while Army had 10 fouls.
UP NEXT
• Colgate will find out its destination in the NCAA Tournament when the Association releases its bracket during the Division I Men's Soccer Selection Show starting at 1 p.m. on Monday.
2018 Patriot League All-Tournament Team
Oliver Harris, Colgate, Sr., M - MVP
Jacob Harris, Colgate, Jr., GK
Kentaro Morrison, Colgate, Jr., M
Christian Clarke, Colgate, Jr., D
Zac McGraw, Army West Point, Jr., D
Justin Stoll, Army West Point, Jr., GK
Keenan O'Shea, Army West Point, Jr., F
Gabriel Carlsson, Loyola Maryland, Sr., M
Davey Mason, Loyola Maryland, Jr., D
Mark Forrest, Lehigh, Sr., F
Oscar Greene, Lehigh, Sr., M
