HAMILTON – First-year Patriot League Rookie of the Year Blake Pipkin blasted the game-winning free kick high into the netting from 25 yards out to power the Raiders to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory in over Lehigh in double-overtime in the Patriot League quarterfinals Saturday at Beyer-Small '76 Field.

COACH RONNING'S COMMENTS "I'm really happy for the guys. This was a really tight game like we expected. Lehigh is an excellent team. To come back after conceding is a testament to our guys and their resilience. We played a really strong second half despite giving up an early goal off the run of play. We kept at it. Getting the equalizer was well-deserved and that overtime goal was so special. We had established possession in their half. Blake created the foul to get by a couple players and that free kick was at a really good distance for a shot on goal. He just hit a really good shot. He made a play and to win these types of games, someone had to make a play."

HOW IT HAPPENED

Pipkin corralled a through ball in the offensive third and raced toward the box with time winding down in the second overtime session. He was fouled outside of the box, setting up his magical free kick that rifled into the upper right corner of the net to send everyone into an instant classic Beyer-Small '76 Field frenzy. 

Pipkin had a hand in both Colgate goals. He assisted on Timmy Donovan's equalizer in the 84th minute after Lehigh broke a scoreless draw in the 65th minute. With time winding down in regulation, Pipkin lofted a free kick into the box from 25 yards out. Donovan was on the other end, connecting perfectly with a header that beat the Mountain Hawks' keeper and evened the match at 1-1. 

Colgate maintained offensive pressure for the final six minutes of regulation but couldn't find the game-winner in regulation. The Raiders dominated the two overtime periods, outshooting Lehigh 3-1, before Pipkin walked it off with just over two minutes remaining in double OT. 

Shots finished 12-7 in favor of Colgate, in large part due to a 6-3 advantage in the second half. The Raiders had six corner kicks to Lehigh's one, while the Mountain Hawks committed eight fouls to Colgate's four. 

UP NEXT
With the win Colgate (7-8-3) advances to face top-seeded Boston University in the Patriot League semifinals on Tuesday in Boston at Nickerson Field at 7 p.m.