Box Score EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette defeated Saint Peter's 1-0 in the men's soccer season opener for both teams on Friday night.
David Giddings (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) made two saves for the Peacocks (0-1-0) while Michael Broncati (Petropolis, Brazil/Norwalk [Conn.]), Marcel Maddee' (Berlin, Germany/Gymnasium Villa Elisabeth) and Ezequiel Cei (Elizabeth, N.J./St. Benedicts) each had two shots in the loss.
Eric West scored off an Alec Golini assist in the 60th minute for the Leopards (0-1-0) and Sandy Leavy turned away four shots in the winning effort.
After the two teams battled to a scoreless double overtime result last season in Jersey City, Lafayette broke the scoreless drought in the series in the second half and the Leopards held on for the victory.
West scored off a free kick from Golini that was deflected and went into the twine at the 58:41 mark for the lone goal of the night.
Saint Peter's had a couple of scoring chances in the match, but could not convert. Cei had his shot saved by Leavy in the sixth minute and then the netminder turned away a Broncati shot 41 seconds later. In the second half, Rafa Braga (Union, N.J./Union) had a chance thwarted by Leavy in the 75th minute and then Maddee gave the Peacocks their final two scoring chances, but his first shot was saved in the 87th minute and then he missed wide one minute later.
Cei and Michael Crentsil (Newaek, N.J./St. Benedict's), a pair of local products from St. Benedict's High School, both made their collegiate debut in the starting lineup for Saint Peter's.
The Peacocks return to action on Sept. 5 against New Hampshire in the Mayor's Cup hosted by Hartwick. Game time is 5 p.m.
