Sept. 21, 2013

(2-0-5)     1 2 OT F  Binghamton 1 0 0 1  Lafayette 0 1 1 2   Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (2-4-1)

EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette dictated the pace of play throughout and eventually came away with a 2-1 double overtime victory over Binghamton on Saturday afternoon at Oaks Stadium. Alec Golini tapped in the game winner in the 103^rd minute to keep the Leopards unbeaten in 2013.

Playing in its fifth consecutive overtime game, Lafayette (2-0-5) broke the deadlock when Peter Adubato sent a cross to Tom McCutcheon for a header that he redirected toward the far post. The ball hit the woodwork and bounced right to Golini, who slid it inside the post for the decisive tally. It was his first tally of the year.

A give-and-go between Jeff McLaughlin and Golini allowed Lafayette to take the game’s initial chance in the 12^th minute. Golini carried a backheel feed through the teeth of the Binghamton (2-4-1) defense and as his last touch went around the final defender, goalkeeper Stefan Frantellizzi came off his line and forced Golini to poke the shot wide.

After Adubato’s run down the right side set Lafayette up with a free kick from 22 yards out, Nate Arronson put a service around the wall and into the penalty area. McLaughlin was in the mix again and his attempt skidded just wide after he bent down to turf-level to put his head on the ball.

Despite the early pressure, the visitors struck first in the 18^th minute when Matt McCoy took a ball to the end line and sent a low cross into the middle of the Lafayette 18-yard box. From eight yards out, Marts Reid-Warden was there to one-time a shot past Lafayette goalie Nathan McDonald, who was shifting across his line with the cross, to the far post.

Adubato and McLaughlin each had opportunities to even the score later in the first half, but Binghamton was able to take a 1-0 advantage into the break. Adubato flicked a header over the crossbar in the 20^th minute on Erik Cannon’s delivery from a Golini corner and four minutes later Frantellizzi turned away McLaughlin’s uncontested shot from the edge of the area.

Less than a minute into the second half, Frantellizzi was forced to step up again for the Bearcats. Adubato shielded off his man and turned on a bouncing ball with his back to goal, and the Binghamton keeper was there to preserve the 1-0 margin.

A foul on Binghamton with 19 minutes to play gave the Leopards a free kick from just inside the midfield line. Ryan Dodds drilled the ball toward the far post where Greg Biggiani headed it on frame, but Frantellizzi dove to his left to keep it out.

Minutes later Lafayette found the equalizer when Adubato and Biggiani got in on a 2-on-1, and Biggiani was taken down from behind after receiving the pass inside the 18. Adubato stepped to the spot to take the penalty and promptly buried it low and to the left past the outstretched arms of Frantellizzi.

Frantellizzi finished with seven saves as Lafayette posted a 15-4 advantage in shots, including 9-1 in shots on goal. The Leopards finished with four corner kicks compared to Binghamton’s one.

Lafayette returns to action on Tuesday evening when it travels to Ithaca, N.Y. to challenge Cornell. Kickoff against the Big Red is slated for 7 p.m.

Game Notes:

Adubato’s goal was his third of the season.

Coming into the match, Lafayette was one of 21 unbeaten teams in the country. 

Remember to `LIKE' Lafayette Athletics on Facebook and follow @GoLeopards on Twitter and Instagram. 

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