EASTON, Pa. - Despite striking first with a goal midway through the first half, Colgate fell to Lafayette College after they converted two corner kicks to goals late in the second half at Oaks Stadium.
 
The first half of play saw Colgate dominate on shots on goal with a tally of five to Lafayette's one. Each team procured two corners, but were unable to convert. At 24:48 time elapsed in the first half, a Colgate defender sent a sailing pass that Hannah Pinkus headed right to the heals of Ally Giovino, who sidestepped Lafayette goalie Lindsay Dewar, to send the ball cruising  into the left side of the net. Pinkus picked up her fifth assist of the season while Giovino nets her team leading seventh goal of the season.
 
Entering the second half, Colgate held the lead while we saw a see-saw of possessions by both teams. Adrienne Vaughn sent a shot at 49:08 but was denied by Lafayette goalie Natalie Newman who entered the game for the second half. Shortly thereafter, Grace Poncsak recorded her first save of the afternoon when Lafayette's Gretchen Waechter sent a shot just wide of the goal.
 
Lafayette earned their third corner of the contest just past the 77th minute when Poncsak tried to stop a shot from passing the end line but was unsuccessful. From the corner, as the ball spiraled toward the goal, it pin-balled around in front of the net and the last touch of a Lafayette player was by Melissa Lamanna who was credited with the goal.
 
Just two minutes later, the Leopards earned their fourth corner, which resulted in another scramble in front of the net and the ball slid in off a header from Lafayette's Riley Dowd sending the Leopards into the lead.
 
The Raiders, down by one with ten minutes remaining, pressured offensively to move the ball up the pitch to try and equalize the score. With a long kick from Ruby Diodati to send the ball into the box, and a perfect header that sailed past the Lafayette goalie, the Colgate fans were elated, only to see the offside flag arise and the goal erased. One last shot from Hannah Pinkus just under two minutes was denied by Newman.
 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Lyndse Hokanson
 
"Gutted for the group to have the game turn out the way it did. Feels perhaps a bit repetitive but I can't say enough how proud I am of their willingness to fight and battle until the bitter end. Yet another day where I feel as though we had some things that didn't go our way. Thought we had the equalizer there toward the end and I think that is evidence of the never-say-die mentality we've exhibited all year. We'll learn from all of the hard moments this season has taught us and grow as a team and program. I'm more and more proud each day to have the opportunity to coach this group, and am disappointed for them at yet another 1-2 result. Hoping to finish strong on Wednesday at home against Holy Cross."
 
UP NEXT
Colgate heads home for their last regular season game against Patriot League opponent Holy Cross on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at Beyer-Small '76 Field at 7 p.m.