Fab freshmen leading Mountain Hawk charge
9/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Michigan had the Fab Five, a basketball recruiting class that turned their program around and led them to the postseason. Could the Lehigh women’s soccer team have a new version of that? The Heavenly Eleven?
A recruiting class of eleven student-athletes has yielded five starters, and a team that struggled to find offensive consistency last season is all of a sudden torching the nets. Already surpassing in four games (10 goals) their entire output from a year ago (7 goals in 18 games), the new crop of players have given a much-needed boost to the veteran holdovers, specifically all-Patriot League goalkeeper Erin Iwaskiewicz.
"Obviously, winning games by a few goals makes it easier on me," said Iwaskiewicz. "I think my role has changed somewhat. I really have to stay on my toes. Last year I might have needed to make ten saves, now I may make only a couple. I really have to stay focused to prepare for breakaways and things like that." Other than the overtime loss to No. 22 Villanova, Iwaskiewicz has not had to make more than two saves in any game.
Four different freshmen have scored for the Mountain Hawks. Lauren Calabrese, a freshman forward from nearby Moravian Academy, leads the team in points with 2 goals and 3 assists. Tara Stottlemyer, a freshman defender from Charleroi, PA, netted the game-winner in overtime on Sunday against Quinnipiac. In all, nine of the eleven have appeared in a Mountain Hawk uniform.
Many times when so many freshman play, it speaks to an overall lack of talent. But head coach Manny Oudin says that isn’t true in this case.
"They are talented and doing well," said Oudin. "It is not a case that we had to play them – they earned their playing time. But the real key to how we have been playing is how well the upperclassmen have embraced them. Their chemistry, both on and off the field, has been amazing."
The play of the freshmen, coupled with steady production from veterans like junior Jocelyn Helwig (2 goals), has sparked the Mountain Hawks to a 3-1 start, the best in school history. In fact, with another win they will maintain a winning record further into the season than any previous squad.
All the excitement for the team is great, but Oudin says the team is still focused on their goals. "It’s still early. Come back and talk to me when we’ve won a few Patriot League games, and I’ll be able to say more about where we stand."
Lehigh returns to action looking to extend their three-game winning streak Friday night at home against Pittsburgh. The game can be heard live on Lehigh’s website at www.lehigh.edu.
A recruiting class of eleven student-athletes has yielded five starters, and a team that struggled to find offensive consistency last season is all of a sudden torching the nets. Already surpassing in four games (10 goals) their entire output from a year ago (7 goals in 18 games), the new crop of players have given a much-needed boost to the veteran holdovers, specifically all-Patriot League goalkeeper Erin Iwaskiewicz.
"Obviously, winning games by a few goals makes it easier on me," said Iwaskiewicz. "I think my role has changed somewhat. I really have to stay on my toes. Last year I might have needed to make ten saves, now I may make only a couple. I really have to stay focused to prepare for breakaways and things like that." Other than the overtime loss to No. 22 Villanova, Iwaskiewicz has not had to make more than two saves in any game.
Four different freshmen have scored for the Mountain Hawks. Lauren Calabrese, a freshman forward from nearby Moravian Academy, leads the team in points with 2 goals and 3 assists. Tara Stottlemyer, a freshman defender from Charleroi, PA, netted the game-winner in overtime on Sunday against Quinnipiac. In all, nine of the eleven have appeared in a Mountain Hawk uniform.
Many times when so many freshman play, it speaks to an overall lack of talent. But head coach Manny Oudin says that isn’t true in this case.
"They are talented and doing well," said Oudin. "It is not a case that we had to play them – they earned their playing time. But the real key to how we have been playing is how well the upperclassmen have embraced them. Their chemistry, both on and off the field, has been amazing."
The play of the freshmen, coupled with steady production from veterans like junior Jocelyn Helwig (2 goals), has sparked the Mountain Hawks to a 3-1 start, the best in school history. In fact, with another win they will maintain a winning record further into the season than any previous squad.
All the excitement for the team is great, but Oudin says the team is still focused on their goals. "It’s still early. Come back and talk to me when we’ve won a few Patriot League games, and I’ll be able to say more about where we stand."
Lehigh returns to action looking to extend their three-game winning streak Friday night at home against Pittsburgh. The game can be heard live on Lehigh’s website at www.lehigh.edu.
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