Final game on Ulrich turf pits Lehigh vs. Holy Cross
10/24/2008 9:45:00 AM | Field Hockey
 |
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Two teams still searching for their first Patriot League victory of the season meet Saturday afternoon, as Lehigh hosts the Holy Cross Crusaders. The Mountain Hawks will be looking to snap an eight game slide overall in what will be the final field hockey game at the Ulrich Sports Complex, which is scheduled to undergo a facility upgrade that will begin next week.
Lehigh is coming off a 2-0 non-league setback to Columbia on Wednesday night, a game in which the Mountain Hawks played much better than they did in their loss to rival Lafayette a week ago. Despite the improvements on the back line and in the midfield, the Columbia loss marked the fifth time this season Lehigh has been shut out, after the Brown and White were blanked just once last year. The Mountain Hawks midfield, featuring senior Jenn Cochran, sophomore Katey Fardelmann and freshman Madison Ingal did well in terms of improving possession, but the Lehigh offense must find its groove as the Mountain Hawks look to get back on the winning track.
Holy Cross enters Saturday’s game at 4-10 overall, and like Lehigh, 0-3 in the Patriot League. The Crusaders spent last weekend in central New York, where they lost 4-3 to Colgate and then 7-0 to top-ranked Syracuse. Holy Cross also has league losses to American and Lafayette and will face Bucknell next weekend, while Lehigh meets American in its final regular season game. Senior Kristin Schultz paces the Crusader attack with seven goals and 16 points, while classmate Erin Singleton is one of the league’s top goalkeepers, and has played every minute of every game in the cage this season for Holy Cross.
The Crusaders lead the all-time series versus Lehigh 14-5, but the Mountain Hawks snapped a ten game losing streak to Holy Cross with a 3-2 overtime win last year in Worcester. Lehigh will be looking for its first win over Holy Cross in Bethlehem since a 2-1 overtime triumph in 1996.
Saturday’s game gets underway at 1 p.m. from the Ulrich Sports Complex. The game can be seen online at Lehighsports.com with streaming powered by Yahoo! Sports College Broadcast.
