Lehigh University Athletics
It all comes down to this
11/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
It’s really quite simple for the Lehigh men’s soccer team. Win and they’re in. In to the Patriot League post season tournament that is, and with that comes a chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Mountain Hawks welcome Navy to the Ulrich Sports Complex on Saturday night at 7:00 for what is the biggest game of the season. Lehigh has struggled of late, having lost its last two, and tied the five previous games before that, but can forget all of that, with a victory in this one game.
“This is the only game that we have, this is the only game that matters to us right now. We can forget about everything else that’s happened so far this season, we have to do whatever is necessary to win,” says Head Coach Dean Koski. “We have to do all we can to get goals on the board, we must win in order to get to the second season, which is the playoffs, it’s as simple as that.”
The Mountain Hawks, ranked tenth in the Mid-Atlantic Region, still boast one of the toughest defenses in the country, with a 0.58 goals against average, which is good for seventh in the nation, and a 0.53 shutout percentage, good for 11th in the NCAA. Junior goalkeeper Sam Bishop also ranks in the top-ten with a 0.581 goals against average, good for ninth place in all of America.
Lehigh (7-3-7) is led on offense by senior Steve Fisher, who has netted eight goals on the season, good for second in the Patriot League. Senior co-captain Wes Roach, who helps anchor the defense for the Mountain Hawks, will be playing in his 77th consecutive game has been through many battles during his time on South Mountain, including two trips to the NCAA tournament and one Patriot League Title. The senior knows that this is his last chance to have a shot at the post season, and he doesn’t plan on letting it slip away.
The Midshipmen arrive in Bethlehem after suffering a 2-0 loss to Patriot League leading Bucknell in the Mids’ 2003-home finale Saturday night in Annapolis. The Midshipmen have struggled on the offensive end of the field all season, only able to muster up nine goals. Navy has not beaten the Mountain Hawks since back in the 1999 season, when the Mountain Hawks dropped a score of 1-0.
Lehigh and Navy will get all of the action underway at 7:00. The game will be broadcast live on Lehigh’s website.
