EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette capitalized on early opportunities and never looked back en route to a 3-0 victory over the Colgate men's soccer team Saturday night at Oaks Stadium.
 
Lafayette (8-3-1, 4-1-0 PL) jumped on top early with a rebound in the 14th minute. Yiannis Panayides settled a long through ball on the left side and struck a quick shot on goal. Jacob Harris dove to make the initial save, but Ryan Goncalves was in position for the rebound goal 13:29 into the match.
 
Kentaro Morrison generated his own scoring chance midway through the frame. The senior sprinted down the center of the field and blew past two defenders with a quick cut to his left inside the box, but his high blast was knocked away on a diving save by Alex Sutton.
 
It was not long after that the Leopards doubled their lead. Panayides rifled a shot from the top of the 18-yard box and beat Harris diving to his left in the 24th minute. The Leopards sustained pressure in dangerous areas, but two big saves by Harris down the stretch kept it a two-goal deficit after 45 minutes.  
 
Pressing offensively, Colgate (2-7-4, 1-3-1 PL) manufactured early second-half chances in attempt to cut into the deficit. Baraka Kiingi created space on the right side before serving a cross into the box, where the Leopards defender read it perfectly and deflected the pass away from danger.
 
Drew Fischer came away with a strong opportunity in the 60th minute, but his shot from the right wing was corralled by Sutton. Kian Alberto shortly after served a corner kick into the box, but Sutton left his net to snag the bending cross and prevent further damage.
 
Alberto came away with two of Colgate's best chances four minutes apart. Antonio Ducrot threaded a pass forward into the box, where Alberto sent a one-timer just wide of the left post. Fischer then heaved a throw-in toward the goal and Alberto pounded a missile toward the upper left corner but Sutton dove to deflect the shot over the crossbar.
 
Despite Colgate's offensive possessions, Lafayette struck the final tally with eight seconds left in regulation and held on to defeat the Raiders, 3-0.
 
BOTTOM LINE
Lafayette 3, Colgate 0

NOTABLES

• Morrison paced Colgate offensively with three shots.
• Freshmen Fischer and Ducrot tallied two shots on goal apiece.
• Harris finished with a season-high five saves in the defeat.
• Lafayette's Sutton made six saves in the shutout.

UP NEXT
Colgate wraps up a four-game road trip with its final non-conference test of the season on Tuesday at Vermont. Kickoff from Burlington is 7 p.m.