WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A rivalry that has grown into one of the fiercest non-conference matchups in the Mid-Atlantic Region, the 15^th annual Battle of the Boot between the Lycoming College men's soccer team and Susquehanna University will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m., at the Shangraw Athletic Complex.
 
The Warriors (2-1 overall) are coming off an exciting 3-2 double-overtime win against York, as they scored twice in the final 10 minutes of play before sophomore Abdullahi Abdi (Seattle, Wash./James Garfield) scored on a penalty kick in the second overtime. Lycoming also posted a 3-0 win over Scranton and fell, 1-0 in overtime, to Freedom Conference favorite eastern in the opening week of the season.
 
The Crusaders are also 2-1 after their opening week, posting a 2-1 overtime win against Ursinus in their last outing on Sunday. Ryan Cronin delivered the game-winner just 70 seconds into the overtime period. Susquehanna also notched a 2-1 win over Elmira and fell to Salisburg, 2-1, during the first week of the season.
 
In 2014, the Crusaders retained the Boot by virtue of a 0-0 double-overtime tie, the first in the rivalry game's history. Lycoming held a 14-7 advantage in shots, but could not dent the twine, as Susquehanna keeper Zach Zoller made eight saves. Lycoming keeper Connor Keenan '15 stopped two, as the shutout snapped a string of seven straight losses in Selinsgrove dating back to 1997.

The Warriors have won three of the first 14 meetings in the trophy game. The Warriors last held the Boot in 2011, when Charlie Vess '13 delivered the winning strike on a breakaway in a 1-0 overtime win.

The Battle for the Boot has grown in stage and size during the 15 years of the rivalry, with the crowds in the past seven years averaging more than 500 fans. In four of the past six years, it has been the best attended regular-season game on the Lycoming College men's soccer team's schedule. 


Also adding to the rivalry is the relationship between the two head coaches – Lycoming head coach Nate Gibboney played for Susquehanna head coach Jim Findlay at Susquehanna from 2001-05, where Gibboney was an all-conference defender and helped the Crusaders to three wins in the Battle of the Boot. Findlay also has ties to Lycoming, as he served as an assistant coach for the Warriors in 1997 before becoming Susquehanna's head coach in 1998. In addition, Susquehanna assistant coach Brandon Kates is in his first year with the Crusaders after two years with the Warriors, helping the team to back-to-back MAC Commonwealth Tournament final appearances.
 
The trophy is a bronzed cleat mounted to a wood platform with a plaque reading "Battle of the Boot – Susquehanna vs. Lycoming" and is awarded to the winning team each season. The host institution switches annually between the rival schools.