BETHLEHEM, Pa. — #6 Lafayette and #2 Lehigh battled through three overtime periods to a 1-1 draw on Saturday in a Patriot League Championship match before 2,075 spectators. The teams remained deadlocked through 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, with the match ultimately decided by penalty kicks after neither side could break the stalemate.
Lehigh struck first when Aiden Gonzalez headed in a goal in the 46th minute, assisted by Jason Pynadath, giving the Mountain Hawks an early second-half advantage. The goal came just 46 seconds into the second half, putting Lafayette on its heels after a scoreless first 45 minutes. Lafayette's goalkeeper Eric Axtman made five saves throughout the contest, keeping his team within striking distance despite Lehigh's territorial advantage.
Lafayette equalized late in regulation when Jackson Vajda headed home in the 86th minute, denying Lehigh a victory and forcing the match into overtime. The goal capped a frantic sequence in which Lafayette generated multiple chances, with Gabe Faust and Nicholas Liebich testing Lehigh goalkeeper Anton Kinnunen before Vajda's equalizer. Kinnunen made two saves in the second half to preserve the tie through regulation.
The first overtime period produced few clear-cut opportunities, with both teams defending cautiously. Lehigh's Giacomo Zizza had a blocked shot in the 91st minute, while Lafayette's Cade Maglione fired high in the 94th minute. The second overtime period saw similar defensive intensity, with Zizza missing low in the 102nd minute and Axtman denying him again in the 108th minute.
Lafayette controlled possession for stretches of the match, recording 15 shot attempts compared to Lehigh's 11, though the Mountain Hawks converted their chances more efficiently with six shots on goal to Lafayette's three. Lehigh's corner kick advantage proved significant, earning seven compared to Lafayette's four. Neither team committed a yellow card infraction in the physical contest.
The draw marked the second meeting between these Patriot League rivals this season, with their previous encounter also ending 1-1. Lafayette entered the match riding momentum from consecutive tournament victories over Army West Point and American, while Lehigh had defeated Boston University in the championship semifinals. Both teams demonstrated the defensive solidity expected at this level of competition, with neither goalkeeper overwhelmed despite sustained pressure.
Axtman's five saves proved crucial for Lafayette's ability to earn a point on the road, while Kinnunen's two saves kept Lehigh in contention through the second half. The Mountain Hawks dominated possession in stretches but struggled to convert their territorial advantage into additional scoring opportunities beyond Gonzalez's early second-half strike.
The result leaves both teams with unresolved championship aspirations, as neither secured the decisive victory needed to advance. Lafayette's resilience in equalizing late and surviving three overtime periods demonstrated the Leopards' championship mettle, while Lehigh's inability to protect its lead despite superior possession highlighted the unpredictability of tournament soccer at the Division I level.