Tuesday, November 4
Bethlehem, Pa.
6:00 PM
Lehigh University
8-5-5, 5-1-3
1
vs
1
Lafayette
6-6-6, 3-2-4
1
2
F
Lafayette
0
1
1
Lehigh
1
0
1
Photo by: Kit Keating
Lehigh Ties Lafayette 1-1 To Close Out Regular Season
11/4/2025 8:53:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The regular season concluded for Lehigh men's soccer on Tuesday evening, welcoming the Lafayette Leopards in The Rivalry, presented by Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, part of Jefferson Health. The Mountain Hawks and Leopards played to a 1-1 draw in front of a packed crowd at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
"There were stretches where I thought we played well and we did what we wanted to do, which is manage the midfield and control the game," said Ingrassia Family men's head soccer coach Dean Koski. "Our focus is getting rested, recovered, and prepping for our semifinal game."
Prior to Tuesday's match, both teams had already clinched berths in the Patriot League Tournament, but their seeding was still up for grabs. Lehigh is now locked into the second seed while Lafayette finished the season as the sixth and final team in the field.
Lehigh (8-5-5, 5-1-3 PL) and Lafayette (6-6-6, 3-2-4) played a relatively even first half, with shots slightly favoring the Mountain Hawks 6-5. The Leopards found an opportunity in the tenth minute when Roy Biegon set up for a penalty kick, which was ultimately missed wide left. With only a few minutes to go in the first half, sophomore Aiden Gonzalez broke the tie, netting his second goal of the season in the 43rd minute on an assist from sophomore Giacomo Zizza.
The Mountain Hawks maintained the lead for the majority of the second half, holding strong defensively while limiting Lafayette's chances. However, the Leopards were given one last opportunity when a foul inside the box set up Lafayette's second penalty kick of the evening. Griffin Feather converted his chance to tie the contest 1-1 and secure a point for both teams.
In addition to Gonzalez, Lehigh found shots throughout the match from Zizza, Sam Davis, Paul Smajlaj, Thomas Robertson, Bora Turker, Shea Coughlin and Yusef Gueye. Sophomore goalkeeper Anton Kinnunen finished the night with three saves.
The Mountain Hawks will host a Patriot League Semifinal on Tuesday, November 11 at 7 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Lehigh's opponent will be determined after the results of Saturday's first round matches.
"Tonight felt like a playoff game, and Lehigh/Lafayette always brings that kind of energy and emotion to it," said Koski. "This was a good match for us to have and for them to have ahead of the playoffs. At the end of the day, this game is behind us, and now we have to move on and focus on the playoffs because it's win or go home."
Like Lehigh men's soccer on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
"There were stretches where I thought we played well and we did what we wanted to do, which is manage the midfield and control the game," said Ingrassia Family men's head soccer coach Dean Koski. "Our focus is getting rested, recovered, and prepping for our semifinal game."
Prior to Tuesday's match, both teams had already clinched berths in the Patriot League Tournament, but their seeding was still up for grabs. Lehigh is now locked into the second seed while Lafayette finished the season as the sixth and final team in the field.
Lehigh (8-5-5, 5-1-3 PL) and Lafayette (6-6-6, 3-2-4) played a relatively even first half, with shots slightly favoring the Mountain Hawks 6-5. The Leopards found an opportunity in the tenth minute when Roy Biegon set up for a penalty kick, which was ultimately missed wide left. With only a few minutes to go in the first half, sophomore Aiden Gonzalez broke the tie, netting his second goal of the season in the 43rd minute on an assist from sophomore Giacomo Zizza.
The Mountain Hawks maintained the lead for the majority of the second half, holding strong defensively while limiting Lafayette's chances. However, the Leopards were given one last opportunity when a foul inside the box set up Lafayette's second penalty kick of the evening. Griffin Feather converted his chance to tie the contest 1-1 and secure a point for both teams.
In addition to Gonzalez, Lehigh found shots throughout the match from Zizza, Sam Davis, Paul Smajlaj, Thomas Robertson, Bora Turker, Shea Coughlin and Yusef Gueye. Sophomore goalkeeper Anton Kinnunen finished the night with three saves.
The Mountain Hawks will host a Patriot League Semifinal on Tuesday, November 11 at 7 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Lehigh's opponent will be determined after the results of Saturday's first round matches.
"Tonight felt like a playoff game, and Lehigh/Lafayette always brings that kind of energy and emotion to it," said Koski. "This was a good match for us to have and for them to have ahead of the playoffs. At the end of the day, this game is behind us, and now we have to move on and focus on the playoffs because it's win or go home."
Like Lehigh men's soccer on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
LAF
LEH
Goals
1
1
Shots
12
10
Shots on Goal
4
2
Saves
1
3
Corners
2
5
Fouls
17
11
Scoring Plays
Aiden Gonzalez (2)
Assisted By: Giacomo Zizza
GOAL by LEH Gonzalez, Aiden Assist by Zizza, Giacomo.
42:30
Griffin Feather
LAF Griffin Feather PENALTY KICK GOAL.
85:47
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
G
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's SoccerM
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