Oct. 14, 2008
Final Stats
VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Lafayette Leopards (4-5-3 overall, 0-1-2 Patriot League) capped off a furious final 30 minutes with a goal in the 99th minute to claim a 1-0 victory over Villanova (5-7-2 overall, 2-3-2 BIG EAST) in a non-conference men's soccer match played here at the Soccer Complex on a warm autumn afternoon.
The winning score came with 32 seconds left on the clock in the first overtime. After the Wildcats were whistled for a foul, Lafayette was awarded a free kick near the scorer's table at the midfield line. Stephen Macurdy lofted a long ball into the box that Lafayette's Andreas Kustas redirected with his head to the left side of the net. Andrew Ference collected that pass and slipped a shot past Villanova freshman goalkeeper Chris Bresnahan (McLean, VA/Gonzaga High School) to give the Leopards the victory.
It was a game that started slowly with the two teams combining for only nine first half shots and no real quality chances. It was not until the 70th minute that both teams began to find their offensive groove.
In the 71st minute the Wildcats executed a sharp play that featured a cross into the box off the foot of freshman Kevin Garcia (Flushing, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) that was deflected into the net by the `Cats for the apparent go-ahead score. But the play was ruled offside and the scoreless battle continued.
Lafayette had two promising opportunities snuffed out in the next ten minutes. An Adam Allers header in the 76th minute sailed just over the Wildcats net while a B,J. Glenn shot in the 82nd minute was stopped by Bresnahan, who made four saves on the day.
It looked like Villanova might grab the game-winner with just over a minute left on the clock in regulation. Junior Michael Seamon (Rahway, N.J./Union Catholic H.S.) deftly dribbled into the box past a Leopard defender and sent a low blast that caromed off the right post. Lafayette then made one final push and Bresnahan caught Glenn's shot just as the clock wound down to zero in the final seconds of regulation.
The pace didn't diminish in overtime. Villanova senior Joe Taylor twice had promising opportunities but his first was stopped by Lafayette goalie Andrew Pianko in the 96th minute and his next chance moments later sailed over the net.
That set the stage for Ference's score.
"It's a story we've seen before," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "We accomplished a lot of the things we wanted to. We created good scoring chances in the attacking area against a good defensive team. We just weren't able to finish them.
"We weren't able to take advantage of our opportunities and Lafayette is a good counter-attacking team. They got a set piece and were able to put it in the net. We're disappointed but we will keep working to get better."
Villanova owned a 17-15 edge in shots. Pianko made four saves for the Leopards in picking up the shutout.
Next up for the Wildcats is a BIG EAST clash at Louisville on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
