EASTON, Pa. –  There will be a new Patriot League men's soccer champion for the first time since 2015, as the three-time defending champion Colgate men's soccer team succumbed to Lafayette 2-1 on Saturday afternoon in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals.
 
The Colgate Class of 2020 has accomplished feats that not many can compare to. The Raiders won the Patriot League title on penalty kicks in 2016 and that was just the beginning. In 2017, Colgate knocked off Michigan on its way to the program's first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Then in 2018 the Raiders became the first team in Patriot League history to win three consecutive titles and went toe-to-toe with No. 1 Wake Forest on the national stage.  
 
But Lafayette put an end to the historic run and paved the way for a new champion behind a fast start and strong defense down the stretch. A Raider foul in the box staked Lafayette's Marcos Kitromilides the opening goal on a penalty kick just over seven minutes into the match.
 
Colgate weathered the storm and found better offensive possessions as the half wore on. Senior Christian Clarke brought the Raiders to life with the game-tying goal in the 32nd minute after a foul awarded Bobby Foose a set piece from 30 yards out. Foose sent a low cross right to the penalty kick stripe, where Clarke connected on the one-timer for the equalizer before halftime.
 
The Raiders came back with the better start to the second half behind early shots on goal from Drew Fischer and Chris DePetro around a corner kick from Ryan Krueger.

Lafayette recorded just one shot in the second half, but Ryan Goncalves made it count in the 58th minute. A long, slow pass to the left wing dragged Colgate defenders out, but Lafayette maintained possession and had numbers pushing forward. With space from the top of the box, Goncalves sent a low shot past a diving Harris for the go-ahead marker.
 
Mason Miller nearly scored the equalizer just a minute later, but his header off a Kentaro Morrison cross was saved at the left post. Kian Alberto twirled a pair of corner kicks into the box in the 68th minute and DePetro fired a shot just wide in the 85th minute in what were two of the Raiders' better chances of the half. 
 
Colgate outshot Lafayette 6-0 over the final 30 minutes, but could not cash in down the stretch en route to the 2-1 final.
 
BOTTOM LINE
Lafayette 2, Colgate 1

QUOTES
Head Coach Erik Ronning
On the game:
"We played great, left everything out there and our young men deserved better. We truly battled, dictated the tempo, and created chances but scoring can be difficult sometimes. I am very proud of the belief and growth displayed by our group this year. We saw just about everything and always responded incredibly well. The future looks very bright."

On the seniors:
"Our seniors were phenomenal. They totally carried the load, and feel bad they will not be able to move on. What this group has done for Colgate soccer is unprecedented. Incredible careers as Raiders. I and truly thankful for all they have done for Colgate Soccer."

Senior Christian Clarke
"It's unfortunate that we didn't get the result we wanted today, but I am proud of the fight this team showed. We fought to get into the tournament and we continued to fight for 90 minutes today.

"It has been an incredible four years for me. I am just so thankful for all the guys that made this journey so special."

NOTABLES

• After Lafayette held a 4-1 edge in shots at halftime, Colgate flipped the script with a 9-1 advantage over the final 45 minutes.
• Shots on goal were even at four apiece.
• Clarke with the goal caps his senior campaign with three goals and three assists.
• Foose's assist was the first of his collegiate career.
• DePetro led the Raiders with three shots.
• Fischer and Clarke each tallied two shots.
• Colgate's six corner kicks came in the second half.
• Harris made two saves in his final match with the Raiders.
• The senior keeper's 20 shutouts go down as the second-most in program history.