Lehigh University
Colgate
Lehigh falls to Colgate 1-0 in home finale
10/26/2008 2:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Needing a win to keep its slim postseason hopes alive, Lehigh fell to Colgate 1-0 Sunday on Senior Day at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Liz Polido scored the game’s only goal in the 45th minute and the Raider defense clamped down to keep the Mountain Hawks off the scoreboard, despite the fact that Lehigh held a commanding 23-11 lead in shots and an 11-3 edge in corner kicks.
The loss drops Lehigh to 5-10-1 overall and 1-5 in the Patriot League. Colgate is now 7-9-1 overall and 4-2 in league games.
“There’s a certain level of concentration that you need to have, especially in the first five minutes of a half and the last five minutes of a half,” said Lehigh head coach Manny Oudin. “It was disappointing to give up that a goal like that, late in the half.”
Polido put the Raiders in front after she beat the Lehigh defense down the field, and fired a shot from the near side of the 18-yard box into the upper left corner of the net.
Lehigh pressed for an equalizer throughout the second half and held a 13-3 advantage in shots in the second 45 minutes. Freshman Jana Basubas had arguably Lehigh’s best chance of the game when she struck a volley towards goal after a corner that was poked over the top by Raider goalkeeper Rebecca Michlin. The final seconds of the game were frantic, with a Colgate defender called for a hand ball at the edge of the 18-yard box, but Lehigh was unable to get a free kick off before time expired.
“It certainly wasn’t for lack of opportunities,” said Oudin about his team’s offensive struggles. “In previous games we struggled to create chances. Today the chances were there, we just could not finish.”
Junior Liz Carlos led Lehigh with four shots, while Basubas, sophomore Stephanie DeLuca and Basubas each registered three.
Machlin finished with ten saves for the Raiders, while sophomore Lauren Mains was credited with one save for the Mountain Hawks.
Lehigh will wrap-up the regular season on Friday night when the Mountain Hawks travel to Army. Game time is set for 7 p.m. from Clinton Field at West Point, N.Y.
