Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh University
Navy
Lehigh upended by Navy in OT
10/10/2009 8:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men’s soccer team lost a tough 2-1 game in overtime to Navy Saturday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The Mountain Hawks were able to break their two-game scoreless streak when senior Adam Welch knocked in a pass from fellow senior Adam Gazda to take a 1-0 lead in the 71st minute, but Navy scored the final two goals of the game including the game-winner in overtime.
“This is very disappointing,” head coach Dean Koski said. “It is not always about out-playing a team or out shooting them; it is about out working them and committing.”
Navy started off the game putting the pressure on the Mountain Hawks, but after gaining its composure Lehigh took control of the first half.
Sophomore Joe Puleo took a cross pass from Welch and headed it off the cross-bar to give Lehigh its best scoring chance of the first half. Welch had a chance of his own late in the half as he took a pass off a corner kick from Gazda, but his shot was blocked in front of the net.
After the Mountain Hawks opened up the scoring in the game, Navy answered right back tying the game six minutes later as freshman Eric Wooten scored his second goal of the season off a loose ball in front of the net.
The two teams battled it out for the remainder of regulation, but Navy, who totaled three of its ten shots in overtime, netted the game-winner in the eighth minute of the extra session. Senior Andrew Garcia headed in a loose ball that just hit off the cross-bar for his first goal of the season.
Lehigh outshot the Midshipmen 20-10 in the game and had several good scoring chances that were turned away by Navy senior keeper Tyler Bristol who finished with five saves.
“We let a lot of chances go by tonight,” Koski said. “I was frustrated with the defense tonight because you can’t give up two goals in Patriot League play and expect to win. If you take a look at the tape I bet you will see a Navy player hustling to every ball.”
Lehigh will look to bounce back Tuesday night when it hosts NJIT and Koski knows his team needs to give a better effort.
“We have to be ready for next weekend and use Tuesday to get back into playing form,” he commented. “We have to get a better commitment in order to be successful.”
NJIT will come to Bethlehem for a 7 p.m. match and this will wrap-up non-conference play for the Mountain Hawks.
Lehigh - Navy Post-Game Extra
