Mountain Hawks host Columbia in non-league tilt
10/21/2008 11:30:00 AM | Field Hockey
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh steps away from Patriot League play to welcome the Columbia Lions to the Ulrich Sports Complex Wednesday night in a midweek, non-league showdown. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 2-0 loss to rival Lafayette on Saturday. Lehigh’s defense has played better as of late, but it will be imperative for the Mountain Hawks to start generating more offense as they look to snap a seven game losing streak.
In Saturday night’s loss to Lafayette, the Mountain Hawks defense did well to slow down the powerful Leopard attack, but Lehigh was eventually done in by a 14-1 disadvantage in the shots department and a 9-1 disparity in penalty corners. Goals have been tough to come by for the Mountain Hawks (3-10 overall), who have scored just four goals in their last seven games, after totaling 14 in their first six. Lehigh has gotten strong play from a backline that has included junior Amy Isabelle and sophomores Lauren Cawley, Taryn Hartzell and Cassie Willard along with sophomore goalkeepers Jessica Miller and Lilia Stefaniwsky. With two league games remaining, it will be up to seniors Kara Zweizig and Kalynn Davies, junior Kelly Fox and freshman Madison Ingal to try to jump-start the offense.
Columbia enters Wednesday’s game at 9-3 overall. The Lions are just 1-3 in the Ivy League, but are 8-0 in non-league match-ups, including wins against Patriot League members Lafayette and Holy Cross. Junior Christine Buszczak has been the Lions leading scorer, with six goals and nine assists for 21 points. Sophomore Julia Garrison (12 points) and freshmen Maggie O’Connor and Desi Scherf (eight points apiece) have also made significant contributions to the attack. Senior Gena Miller is the top goalkeeper and holds a 1.53 goals-against average with four shutouts.
Wednesday’s game marks the eleventh straight year, and 12th time overall that these two teams have faced off in field hockey. Columbia leads the series 7-4 and has won the last three meetings, including a 2-1 victory in New York last September.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. and all the action can be seen at Lehighsports.com with streaming powered by Yahoo! Sports College Broadcast.
