The Crusaders soccer team battled top-10 WNY Section VI ranked Lancaster in a non-league matchup Monday night under the lights at the Medaille Sports Complex at Buffalo Color Park.

The Legends struck in the opening five minutes to seize momentum and put the Crusaders on the back foot. 

The Crusaders settled in defensively and began to dictate stretches of possession, generating several chances.

The breakthrough came midway through the first half when Elliott Manley slipped a pass to Henry Smith, who buried the equalizer to bring the game level at 1-1 heading into halftime.

The second half was tightly contested, with both teams trading opportunities but neither able to convert. A back-and-forth stretch with solid defensive effort led to a golden goal in overtime.

In the opening minute of overtime, Henry Smith scored off a pass from Carter Amodeo to seal a 2-1 victory for the Crusaders.

Game Notes

• The Crusaders extended its win streak to seven straight, improving to 7-1-1 overall.
• Henry Smith scored both goals and now leads the Crusaders with 10 goals, 7 assists, and 27 points.
• Elliott Manley picked up his sixth assist of the season.
• Carter Amodeo added to his totals with 3 assists on the year.

Up Next

The Crusaders return to league play on Tuesday when they host St. Francis on Koessler Field at the Stransky Complex. Kickoff is set for 4:30 PM.