Men’s Soccer Drops League Opener at Lafayette

Saturday, September 26

Easton, Pa.

1 PM ET

Army West Point

2-4-2, 0-1-0

Lafayette

4-2-3, 1-0-0

Army West Point

Lafayette

Men’s Soccer Drops League Opener at Lafayette

September 26, 2015 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. – A goal late in the first half was enough for Lafayette to earn a 1-0 victory over the Army West Point men's soccer team during Saturday afternoon's Patriot League match at Oaks Stadium.

The Black Knights drop to 2-4-2 overall and 0-1-0 in the conference, while the Leopards, who are ranked sixth in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America Northeast Region poll, improve to 4-2-3 and 1-0-0.

"We created a tremendous amount of attacking opportunities and their goalkeeper was up to the task and we have to give him credit," said head coach Russell Payne. "The goal was unfortunate, but we still had opportunities to get back into the game. We talked about having more balance on the attack in the second half and we did that. I think we limited their opportunities and they made the most out of one really good opportunity.

"I continue to be very encouraged by what this team brings on the attacking side of things and today just wasn't our day."

Greg Biggiani nearly gave Lafayette the lead 1:08 into the game, controlling a rebound following a corner kick before sending a shot just wide of Army's left post.

The Black Knights' back line continued to be tested early, but was able to stay composed under pressure from the Leopards. Lafayette won a free kick near the right sideline and sent the ball into the 18-yard box in the 18th minute, but senior Cameron Niccum came up with a sliding clear to negate any chance for the hosts.

Niccum again halted Lafayette's attack in the 24th minute, as he slid in to win the ball for the Black Knights at the top of their own 18-yard box.

Senior Chris Britt made a save on a shot by Biggiani that came from the right side to keep the game scoreless in the 25th minute before Lafayette goalkeeper Brad Seeber saved a hard shot by junior Nick Williams from 25 yards out in the 33rd minute. Seeber finished with seven saves on the afternoon.

Army had its best opportunity of the half in the 36th minute, when Williams played a cross into the 18-yard box following a Black Knight corner kick before sophomore Shaban Abousaud gathered a loose ball and sent a chance on net from close range that Seeber got in front of to prevent the goal.

The Leopards took advantage of a Black Knight turnover in the 44th minute to grab a 1-0 lead, as Ryan Egan dispossessed an Army defender and sent a long shot in to beat Britt on the right side with just 1:20 remaining before the halftime whistle.

The Black Knights registered all eight shots of the second half, with their first four attempts coming in the opening 12:55 of the period. Sophomore Spencer Goldstein had a shot blocked by a Lafayette defender in the 50th minute before classmate Marco Arroyo sent a free kick on target from just outside the 18-yard box that Seeber saved in the 55th minute.

Army had a pair of shots 42 seconds apart in the 58th minute, with junior Christian Ollen firing a shot from close range that was saved after a few closes passes by the Black Knights and Williams directing a header off Lafayette's left post following a cross into the box by junior Christian Clark.

The Black Knights produced two more shots on goal in the 81st minute, as Ollen fired a chance that Seeber tipped over the crossbar before Abousaud sent in a shot following a corner kick that was punched away by Seeber just 22 seconds after Army's initial attempt.

Abousaud had a header saved after a free kick from the left side in the 88th minute before Niccum's shot in the 89th minute was blocked away by a defender to prevent the potential game-tying goal.

Army is off until Friday, Oct. 2 when it heads to Chester, Pa., to face Navy in Army-Navy Cup IV at PPL Park, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

"Navy is a very good team every year and this is one of the highlights of college soccer every year," Payne said about the upcoming match against Navy. "Our guys will be ready and we're going to have to find ways to create opportunities and defend at the highest level."

MATCH NOTES: Army slips to 17-15-12 in its all-time series against Lafayette … Chris Britt made one save.