Lehigh set to embark on critical road trip
10/9/2008 5:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh returns to the pitch this weekend looking to bounce back from a disappointing start to Patriot League play last weekend, as the Mountain Hawks were upended 3-0 by Holy Cross. Things will not get any easier for the Brown and White, who will embark on a four game road trip that begins with critical league games at American on Friday and Navy on Sunday.
Last Saturday’s setback halted the Mountain Hawks’ modest two game win streak and dropped Lehigh to 4-5-1 overall on the season. Lehigh controlled most of the possession, against Holy Cross but could never dig itself out of an early hole against a Crusader team that was picked near the bottom of the Patriot League in the preseason poll.
Statistically, Lehigh has struggled to put the ball in the back of the net, with just seven goals scored in ten games. Seven different players have goals this season for the Mountain Hawks, who have scored multiple goals just once in ten outings this season. Defensively, sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Mains owns a respectable 1.40 goals-against average and has only allowed 13 goals, seven on which came in two games versus Saint Joseph’s and Holy Cross.
The good news for the Mountain Hawks is that they can vault themselves right back into the thick of the league race with a pair of good results this weekend.
On Friday, Lehigh will face off against an American side that is in the midst of a seven game losing streak. The Eagles (3-9) have not won since defeating Towson 1-0 on September 14. American opened league play with a 1-0 home loss to Colgate last Saturday and also lost a midweek home match to Princeton by a 4-0 score. Kelsey Brasher paces the Eagles attack with four goals and nine points on the season. Kelsey Wiggins has started nine of the 13 games so far in goal and holds a 1.39 goals-against average.
The Washington D.C./Maryland portion of the road trip concludes on Sunday at Navy. The two-time defending Patriot League tournament champions enter the weekend at 9-3-1 overall and have won four straight games including a 1-0 win over Bucknell last weekend. The Midshipmen are in the midst of a ten match home stand and will host Lafayette before facing Lehigh on Sunday. Kristen Laraway and Carissa Youker led the Mids with five goals apiece, as Navy has outscored its opposition 26-11 this season. Goalkeeper Lizzie Barnes leads the Patriot League with a 0.91 goals-against average.
The Mountain Hawks trail the all-time series versus both teams, with American holding a 7-3 edge and Navy holding a 10-3-3 advantage. Lehigh’s weekend begins on Friday afternoon, when the Mountain Hawks face off against American at 4 p.m. at Reeves Field. Sunday’s Lehigh-Navy tilt gets underway at 1 p.m. from the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
