Nov. 16, 2001

WORCESTER, MASS. -- At the Hart Soccer Field, number one-seeded Holy Cross defeated Navy 1-0, while second-seeded American overcame third-seeded Lehigh 1-0 in double-overtime to advance to Sunday's Patriot League Men's Soccer Championship match at 1 p.m.

The host and top-seeded Holy Cross Crusaders advanced to the Patriot League Championship match by defeating the fourth-seeded Midshipmen of Navy on a 90th-minute goal by junior midfielder Patrick Montgomery, assisted by Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, junior forward Matt Ney.

Navy senior goalkeeper Brian Steckroth, the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, recorded four saves prior to the Crusader goal at 89:30. On the HC tally, Ney drove a low hard pass to Montgomery just outside the penalty area, and he riffled a shot that deflected off a Navy defender and went past a diving Steckroth.

HC's offensive attack was relentless, out-shooting Navy 15-3. The Crusaders did not allow a second half shot. Offensively, Ney led the Crusader attack with four shots, sophomore forward/midfielder Chris Napolitano chipped in a second-best three attempts, while Montogmery joined two other players with two shots apiece.

Holy Cross improved its record to 10-5-1 (6-0-1 PL), while Navy ended the campaign with a 10-3-3 slate (3-2-2 PL).

In the second semifinal, second-seeded American University advanced to the Patriot League Championship match by defeating Lehigh on a goal from the 2001 Patriot League Rookie of the Year selection, freshman forward Andrew Herman. The game-winner was assisted by first-team Patriot League honoree, senior Adam Rosen.

At 107:46, Rosen served a ball which split two Mountain Hawk defenders and Herman pounced on the 50-50 ball forcing a low-drive past Lehigh's junior goalkeeper Ryan Grzeszczak for the "golden goal" victory.

American All-League goalkeeper Michael Behonick talled two saves, while Grzeszczak managed three. The Eagles blasted 15 shots compared to Lehigh's 12 attempts. American advanced its record to 9-7-1 (6-1-0 PL), with Lehigh falling to 11-5-1 (4-2-1 PL).

In its first season in the Patriot League, American advances to the Patriot League Championship final, while this marks the first finals appearance for the Holy Cross Crusaders. HC has hosted the Championship two other times (1999, 1995), but did not advance into the final.

The Championship match will begin Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Hart Soccer Field on the campus of The College of the Holy Cross.