The St. Lawrence Men’s Soccer Team cleared themselves from the pack to take sole possession of first place in the Liberty League after Saturday’s 1-0 win against Skidmore.
Prior to the game, the Saints sat in second place behind the Thoroughbreds, with Hobart, RIT, and RPI close behind in a battle for the third and fourth positions. The last two weeks have been very productive for first year head coach Mike Toshak, with his side grabbing maximum points from all three Liberty League fixtures.
The Saints have been guided by a full team with great amounts of depth. The talent difference between classes has disappeared within the roster, as almost two months of intense preparation has lead them towards the post-season.
Skidmore came ready to play as usual, having previously bested the Saints back in their 2013 regular season game. The first half was back and forth, both teams pressing hard. The fast pace meant chances at each end, and both Senior goalkeeper Ryan Roethel and Skidmore’s Eli Kesselbech kept clean sheets for their respective teams.
The brisk temperatures and fast wind created a natural advantage on the field. The Saints battled the wind for the first half, but found it at their aid during the final forty-five minutes.
Seniors captains Harry Copeland and Dan Hunt rallied their side and increased their pace of play. Hard work finally paid off at the 60-minute mark when freshman Jethro Dede slotted home the game-wining tally. It is Dede’s third goal of the year and his second against Liberty League competition. The play was created from a cleaver flick by Sophomore forward Chandler Short for his third assist this year.
The win marked a very special day for the class of 2016. Dan Hunt, Harry Copeland, Jonathan Mendoza, Praveen Balakumaran, Edward Gonzalez, Christian Yarros, and Ryan Roethel celebrated their successful careers at St. Lawrence.
Their career record for the Saints is 59-11-9 overall, and 36-3-3 at home. Their next fixture is Saturday, October 31st against our crosstown rivals Clarkson University. A win will secure the regular season title for the Saints as well as lock in a home-field advantage during the Liberty League tournament.