CANTON, N.Y. - Senior
Ryan Grant scored a pair of second-half goals to snap a 1-1 tie and help the St. Lawrence men's soccer team complete their quest for the "triple-double" with a 3-1 win over Skidmore on Sandy MacAllaster Field on Saturday afternoon.
The team has now captured both the regular season and tournament titles in each of the last three seasons. Coincidentally, the streak began with a 3-1 win over the Thoroughbreds in 2013.
The teams played 10-on-10 for the majority of the game after a pair of red cards were issued in the 22
nd minute, which opened up the field for both teams to run on counters.
But it was the Saints who broke through first, as
Noah Bunton gave the Scarlet and Brown a 1-0 lead in the 27
th minute when he converted a penalty kick after a hand ball by Skidmore in the box. Skidmore keeper Eli Kisselbach guessed correctly, but San Diego, Calif. native's shot was just off his fingertips and found its way into the back of the net.
Later in the half, another caution to the Saints gave Skidmore a free kick opportunity deep in the attacking third, which was cleared over the end line by the defense, setting up a corner opportunity for the Thoroughbreds Mike Park. Park played the ball to the near side of the box to Kevin Santos, who headed into the far upper 90 past St. Lawrence goalkeeper
Ryan Roethel to tie the game at 1-1.
In the 51
st minute, Grant tallied his first of two on the afternoon when a shot by
Ryan Roche was blocked by the Skidmore defense and he collected the loose ball on the six and put it high through Kisselbach's hands for the eventual game winner.
While the Saints held a 6-5 shot advantage in the first half, Skidmore outshot St. Lawrence 9-4 in the second, but none would find their way behind Roethel as he made a sliding save on Augustine Okoye who was in alone in the 76
th minute to keep the Thoroughbreds from once again netting the equalizer.
Grant added his eighth of the season and the Saints' insurance tally in the 84
th minute off a feed from first-year
Austin Dilts to put the game away.
Roethel finished with four saves for St. Lawrence, while Kisselbach made three stops for Skidmore.
Grant was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while teammates
Harry Copeland,
Dan Hunt, Roethel, Bunton,
Charlton Kelly and
Brendan McNamee were also named to the All-Tournament Team.
With the win, the Saints clinch the automatic bid into the upcoming NCAA Tournament and will find out their first-round opponent as well as the location on Monday's selection show at 1:30 p.m.
2015 Liberty League All-Tournament Team
Ryan Grant – St. Lawrence (MVP)
Harry Copeland – St. Lawrence
Dan Hunt – St. Lawrence
Ryan Roethel – St. Lawrence
Noah Bunton – St. Lawrence
Charlton Kelly – St. Lawrence
Brendan McNamee – St. Lawrence
Ben Poole – Skidmore
Kevin Santos – Skidmore
Augustine Okoye – Skidmore
Adebare Oyeniyi - Skidmore