Nov. 4, 2007
WASHINGTON - The American University men's soccer team, needing a win to stay alive in the race for the right to host the upcoming Patriot League Championship Tournament, could not tally a marker despite several late scoring chances in a scoreless double-overtime tie Sunday at Reeves Field.
The tie sets up a potential all-or-nothing game for the Eagles next Saturday when they visit Bucknell. Both AU and Lafayette have 11 points in the PL standings, while the Bison have 10 points. A win or tie by the Eagles next weekend would guarantee them a spot in the four-team PL Tournament.
In Sunday's game, Colgate outshot American, 16-13, and had six shots on net compared to the Eagles' three.
It was no surprise the difficulty the two teams had in scoring. Entering the game, Colgate had allowed just 14 goals in 15 games. Meanwhile, the Eagles - not counting a pair of games in which they allowed 11 tallies - allowed just 15 goals in their 14 other games. The game also featured two of the top goalkeepers in the Patriot League. Both goalies - CU's David Cappuccio and AU's Chris Sedlak - earned shutouts. Sedlak, playing the final home game of his career, registered his 16th career shutout.
The majority of regulation was played in the midfield, with both teams attempting to find an offensive rhythm. However, the defenses did well to knock away passes and clog passing lanes. Colgate attempted several times to play long balls over the defense, but that strategy failed as the Raiders were whistled for five offsides.
Regulation could not determine a winner, nor could the initial overtime period. American had the only chance in the first OT, when freshman Mike Worden made some dazzling moves to put himself in the box, where he fired a low, left-footed blast to the near side. However, Cappuccio equaled that effort and kept the game going.
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Colgate two minutes later had perhaps the best scoring chance of the entire contest. On a low cross into the box, senior captain Eric Anton got a solid foot on it and sent the ball just wide right.
However, those were the last good scoring chances in the game. The tie keeps Colgate alive for the Patriot League regular season title, the winner of which earns the right to host the PL Tournament. Both Holy Cross and the Raiders have 14 points in the standings, and both teams have secured their spots in the league tournament.
Meanwhile, the Eagles must battle for their spot in the tourney. The game versus Bucknell is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10.
