BETHLEHEM, Pa. – No. 6 Lafayette Leopards (8-6-7, 3-2-4 PL) claimed the 2025 Patriot League PenFed Credit Union Men’s Soccer Championship over No. 2 Lehigh (9-5-6, 5-1-3 PL) on Saturday, advancing in penalty kick 1-1 (4-1) at Ulrich Sports Complex.
 
The Leopards captured their eighth Patriot League title, their first title since 2012, to earn the League’s automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA DI Men’s Soccer Championship. Lafayette is also the first No. 6 seed to earn the crown since Colgate accomplished the feat in 2017.
 
Lafayette senior goalkeeper Eric Axtman earned Patriot League Tournament MVP honors after blocking two penalty kicks to propel Lafayette to the League crown.  Samir Dishnica and Riley Martin converted their penalty kicks and joined Nicholas Liebich and Axtman on the 11-member All-Tournament Team.
 
Lehigh’s Giacomo Zizza, Jason Pyandith and Sam Davis earned All-Tournament honors.  
 
The Mountain Hawks struck first in the 47th minute when Aiden Gonzalez headed in a cross from Jason Pynadath to put the Mountain Hawks up 1-0.
 
The Leopards responded in the 87th minute when Vajda Jackson scored off a deflection, hitting off his chest and bouncing over the arms of the keeper to tie the score at one goal apiece.  
 
The Mountain Hawks and Leopards remained scoreless in the two overtime periods, sending the Patriot League men’s soccer title game to penalty kicks for the first time since 2016. Axtman blocked two penalty kicks, and Riley Martin scored low right off a penalty kick to clinch the title for the Leopards.

Lafayette will discover their NCAA Tournament opponent during the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Selection Show, scheduled for Monday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. The broadcast will be available on NCAA.com.

For additional details, visit the 2025 Men's Soccer Championship Page.
 
2025 Patriot League Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Eric Axtman, Lafayette, Sr., GK – Most Valuable Player
Nicholas Liebich, Lafayette, Sr., D
Riley Martin, Lafayette, So., F
Samir Dishnica, Lafayette, Jr., M
Giacomo Zizza, Lehigh, So., M
Jason Pyandith, Lehigh, Sr., D
Sam Davis, Lehigh Sr., D
Mustapha Sowe, American, Sr., F
Troy Elgersma, American, Sr., M
Diego Rived, Boston University, Sr., M
Alex Bonnington, Boston University, Sr., F
 
2025 Patriot League Men’s Soccer Championship Schedule
First Round – Saturday, Nov. 8
No. 4 Boston University 3, No. 5 Bucknell 1 | BOX SCORE
No. 6 Lafayette 1, at No. 3 Army West Point 0 | BOX SCORE

Semifinals – Tuesday, Nov. 11
No. 6 Lafayette 3, at No. 1 American 2 (OT) | BOX SCORE
No. 2 Lehigh 1, No. 4 Boston University 0 | BOX SCORE

Championship Game – Saturday, Nov. 15 
No. 6 Lafayette 1, at No. 2 Lehigh 1 (Lafayette, 4-1 PKs) | BOX SCORE
 
NO. 6 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (8-6-7, 3-2-4 PL) 1, AT NO. 2 LEHIGH (9-5-6, 5-1-3 PL) 1 (Lafayette, 4-1 PKs)
BOX SCORE
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lafayette senior goalkeeper Eric Axtman stopped two penalty kicks to help the No. 6 Leopards advance past No. 2 Lehigh, 1-1 (4-1, PKs), for the program’s eighth Patriot League Men’s Soccer title.
*Axtman made five saves, including three in the two overtime periods, to claim Patriot League Championship MVP honors.
*Lehigh struck first in the 47th minute after Aiden Gonzalez headed in a cross from Jason Pynadath to put the Mountain Hawks up 1-0.
*The Mountain Hawks’ offense kept the pressure on the Leopards, controlling the possession much of the second half, but Lafayette was able to stay within one goal after Axtman made a pair of key stops.
*The Leopards’ Jackson Vajda scored the equalizer in the 87th minute, deflecting a shot past the goalkeeper after a series of Lafayette shots and Lehigh saves.
*Lehigh managed three shots in the first overtime period, but a pair of saves from Axtman kept the game tied.
*Lafayette’s Samir Dishnica, Joseph Lee, Gabe Faust and Riley Martin converted their attempts in penalty kicks to lift the Leopards to the Patriot League title.
RECAPS: Lafayette | Lehigh
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.