WEST POINT, N.Y. – Edward Bass scored on a breakaway in the 88th minute to back four saves from
Jacob Harris and the Colgate men's soccer team walked away with a 1-0 shutout victory over Army on Saturday night in a rematch of last year's Patriot League Championship.
Army had the better scoring chances in the game, but Harris and the Colgate back line clamped down in big moments to stall the Black Knights attack and set the stage for Bass.
Chris DePetro intercepted a cross at the top of the 18-yard box in his own defensive zone and used his speed to race all the way down the field with several Black Knights in his rear view mirror. DePetro led Bass with a pass down the right side and Bass finished the game-winning strike with a bar-down missile off the crossbar and into the net with just 2:32 left in regulation.
The Black Knights controlled the tempo early the second half, but Colgate's defense appeared to wear down their counterparts down the stretch. Harris made it all possible with four saves, including a full-extension, two-handed diving save on a blast from Keenan O'Shea in the 59th minute to keep the match scoreless. That would be the final shot of the night for Army.
With the momentum shifting, Colgate came away with three consecutive corner kicks late in regulation.
John Muckstadt nearly broke the scoreless draw in the 69th minute when his one-timer off a corner was blocked by a defender at the goal line.
Christian Clarke connected on another corner in the 85th minute but his shot sailed just wide of the right post.
The Raiders finished the night with the final four shots in the game, capped off by Bass' game-winner in the final minutes of regulation.
The first half followed a similar script, with the Raider defense neutralizing Army's strong offensive start. The Black Knights finished with eight of the nine first-half shots but Harris stood tall. On the only shot of the night that beat Harris,
Kian Alberto made a defense save at the goal line in the 39th minute.
Clarke earned Colgate's best chance in the first half when his header was steered on net off a corner kick in the 18th minute.
John Gerard stabbed a quick shot on net but the Black Knights keeper Justin Stoll was in position to make the diving save.
Neither side could find the back of the net until Bass delivered the heroics late in regulation.
BOTTOM LINE
Colgate 1, Army 0
QUOTES
Head Coach Erik Ronning
On the game:
"After a tough first half, our guys fought really hard and grew in the game as the second half wore on. Jacob was terrific in goal and Edward took his chance really well."
On picking up first road win:
"Earning three points on the road in conference play is always tough and I am proud that our guys battled through a little adversity to earn an important win."
NOTABLES
- The goal was Bass' second collegiate goal – both are game-winners.
- He became Colgate's fifth different goal scorer this season.
- The 1-0 result mirrored the final score in last year's Patriot League title game that sent the Raiders to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year.
- Colgate has now blanked Army in three straight matches, spanning 270 minutes.
- Harris has a season-high four saves in five different games.
- Four of Colgate's five shots came in the final 20 minutes of regulation.
- Harris is now all alone in third place on the Colgate all-time shutouts list with 18 career clean sheets. He is two away from tying Keith Sipes '94 for second.
- David Cappuccio '09 holds the program record with 23.
UP NEXT
Colgate returns home to host Lehigh on Wednesday, with kickoff from Beyer-Small '76 Field set for 7 p.m.
