BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A goal in the 72nd minute proved to be the difference as Lehigh held on to defeat the Colgate men's soccer team 1-0 in the regular season finale on Friday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
 
Friday's finale featured a matchup between two programs who are responsible for the last five Patriot League championships. The Raiders won three straight titles from 2016-18, while the defending champion Mountain Hawks were crowned on both ends of the three-year run in 2015 and 2019.
 
Both teams were eliminated from Patriot League tournament contention, but squared off Friday night for one final regular season meeting. It was a back-and-forth affair with opportunities on both sides of the pitch, but Lehigh broke the draw in the 72nd minute when Dominic Flowers found the net.
 
Andrew Cooke and Colgate's back line had been tuning a stretch of 262 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, which also included a span of three straight halves without allowing a shot on goal.  The Raiders blanked Army and Bucknell in back-to-back affairs on March 27 and April 3.
 
The Raiders outshot Lehigh 7-1 after the Mountain Hawks' goal, including a team save after Justin Weiss nearly found the equalizer in the 80th minute. Adam Fam forced a save on the heels of a corner kick in the 81st minute, but that would be Colgate's final shot on frame in regulation.
 
Colgate saw four shots blocked over the final eight minutes. The Raiders finished with a season-high 14 shots and six shots on goal. Aidan Davock and Nick Steed were the latest rejections in the 90th minute in one final push, but the clock hit zeroes and Lehigh claimed the 1-0 victory.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
• Chris Noriega (Second Team), Chris DePetro (Third Team), and Aidan Davock (Third Team) highlighted the Raiders with All-Patriot League recognition. All three were the first honors of their careers.
• Senior captain DePetro also garnered Academic All-Patriot League distinction.
• Aidan Davock paced Colgate in scoring with two goals, marking the second straight year a freshman has led the team in that department. Drew Fischer was Colgate's leading scorer in 2019 with four tallies.
• Justin Weiss, another freshman, ranked second on the squad in points (3).  
• Fellow freshman Andrew Cooke started four games and registered a pair of shutouts.
 
UP NEXT
Colgate wrapped up its regular season with Friday's match at Lehigh.