The men’s soccer program at Colgate University has seen its fair share of ups and downs. In the middle of the season, the Raiders had a five-game losing streak, followed by a four-game winning streak, which were all must-win games heading into the Patriot League tournament championship game, where the team fell 0-3 to Bucknell University.
In order to get to the championship game, the team competed against Boston University in the semifinals, beating them 1-0. The Raiders previously lost to BU in their regular season game on Senior Day, Oct. 19. Additionally, the team fell to BU in the semifinals of last season’s tournament.
Senior midfielder Mason Pahule, Third Team All-Patriot League recipient, commented on what he believed allowed them to win the game.
“We have had a few games this year where we knew we were not going to have a lot of the ball. But our team having experienced that earlier in the season allowed us to know and understand how to deal with loads of pressure as the game continued,” Pahule said.
First-year forward Blake Pipkin, Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Patriot League recipient, found satisfaction in the opportunity to beat them given the goals that were disallowed in the regular season game.
“Winning the semifinal against BU was incredibly rewarding, especially given the history between our programs. That earlier loss was tough to swallow, particularly with the calls that impacted the game,” Pipkin said.
Senior goalkeeper Oliver Townend, three-time Goalkeeper of the Week this season, expanded on the history that Pipkin mentioned.
“We were really fired up to go play them at their place, especially because last year we lost to them in the semifinals as well, so it was really nice to have the opportunity to go there, prove a point and have the opportunity to take some revenge on them,” Townend said.
Although the later loss in the championship marked the end of his time at Colgate, Pahule believes that it can only be of help to the team going forward.
“A lot of underclassmen got a lot of important minutes and I know that this playoff run got the guys closer to where the program wants to be and deserves to be. They know what it takes now, and while it is disappointing to lose in the championship, I think that may aid them in knowing how badly it feels to lose in that situation,” Pahule said.
Pipkin attested to the game’s impact on his perspective as an underclassman.
“The championship game highlighted areas where we need to grow as a program. It showed us the importance of capitalizing on every opportunity and maintaining composure in high-stakes moments. At the same time, it was a reminder of how far we’ve come and what we’re capable of achieving. We’re proud of the fight we showed, even if the result didn’t go our way,” Pipkin said.
Even though they lost the championship, Townend emphasized the team’s history of dealing with unwanted results. He spoke with pride regarding their resilience as a group.
“That resilience is something that I think the guys and I are really proud of this year. Even though we’ve been down, we’ve been able to show that we can come back,” Townend said.
The growth of the program in the future is now out of the hands of seniors like Townend and Pahule. However, Pahule remains proud of where his class ended with the team and hopeful of where the younger classes will take the program.
“We came in during an unexpected start to our Colgate careers. We went 0-18, and I think I can speak for a lot of my class that we all were taken aback and were in disbelief. We didn’t know what had happened and I think the fact that we have gone progressively further every year in the Patriot League playoffs is a big accomplishment after that first season,” Pahule said.
Townend added that he wants the program to continue its ambitious progress in future Patriot League Tournaments.
“This year we got to go to the championship; we want to make sure that’s sort of a regular expectation,” Townend said.
Pipkin agreed with Townend about standardizing their performance capability. As a younger player on the team, Pipkin recognized the responsibility of building on what they accomplished this season.
“This playoff run is a turning point for the program. It proves that we’re capable of competing at the highest level and that we have the foundation to build something even greater. It sets the standard for future teams and shows that with hard work and determination, we can continue to make history. This is just the beginning,” Pipkin said.
The team was not without recognition this season from the League. Townend’s three Goalkeeper of the Week awards were the most by any Patriot League goalie this year.
“It’s obviously a privilege; it’s interesting though because it’s a team sport, and I can’t get those awards without the rest of the guys performing,” Townend said. “In a sense, they’re also team awards, so it’s nice to be recognized.”
Pipkin commented on the accolades he received this season.
“It’s validation of the effort I’ve put in during my first season, but I couldn’t have achieved it without the guidance of my teammates and coaches. It motivates me to keep improving and contributing to the program’s success in the future,” Pipkin said.
Pipkin was also one of three players to receive All Patriot League Team honors, being named to the Second Team. Junior Cason Stafford and Pahule were both named to the Third Team.
“While I’m proud of the recognition, it’s also a motivator to push harder and aim for First Team next season. There’s always room to grow,” Pipkin said.
Pahule spoke about his Third Team recognition.
“I was honored to find myself on the Third Team for the Patriot League. I do not always get the chance to get goals and assists, and it is sometimes hard to find myself on these teams. However, I am glad I was able to be recognized this year, and it is a testament of our team’s ability to be able to help me play the brand of soccer I have and put me in the right positions for this,” Pahule said.
