Lehigh eyes league win Saturday at Holy Cross
10/16/2009 10:30:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women’s soccer team begins the stretch run of its season this weekend when the Mountain Hawks head to Worcester, Massachusetts for their final road game of the regular season against Holy Cross. The Mountain Hawks will play their final three games of the season within the friendly confines of the Ulrich Sports Complex, but if Lehigh hopes to make its first Patriot League tournament appearance since 2006, it will need to get three points from a Holy Cross team that has upended the Mountain Hawks in each of the last two seasons.
Lehigh (7-3-4, 1-1-1 Patriot League) bounced back from its first league loss at Bucknell on Sunday with a strong performance in a 0-0 draw with Princeton Wednesday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The Mountain Hawks out-shot the Tigers on the evening, and despite not being able to create a goal, Lehigh did come out with its first positive result versus Princeton in 13 meetings.
The Mountain Hawks will be looking to re-discover the offense that generated four goals in a win over Colgate last Friday in Hamilton, N.Y. Senior Liz Carlos had four points (a goal and two assists) in two games last weekend to take over the team lead in scoring with 11 points. Classmate Natalie Hojnacki continues to lead Lehigh in goals with five.
Defensively, Lehigh’s back four of Hailey Coonrad, Alex Warren, Jana Basubas and Leah Kulp has been solid, with the exception of last Sunday’s 3-1 setback at Bucknell. The Mountain Hawks are still averaging less than one goal allowed per game thanks to the play of the defensive unit and junior goalkeeper Lauren Mains.
Holy Cross comes into Saturday’s tilt at 7-6-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the Patriot League. The Crusaders won 1-0 at Lafayette in their league opener but dropped road contests to American and Navy last weekend, both by 2-0 scores. Holy Cross routed Yale 4-1 on Wednesday and Saturday’s game will serve as the Crusader’s league home opener.
Shelby Stand leads the Holy Cross offense with six goals for 12 points, while Liz Early and Catherine Donnelly have added eight and seven points respectively. Mary Ferketic has started ten of the Crusaders’ 14 games this season and owns a 1.34 goals-against average.
Following three rounds of league games, Lehigh sits tied for fourth place with Colgate with four points, five behind first place American. Holy Cross sits one point behind Lehigh and Colgate in sixth place.
Holy Cross owns a 12-6 lead in the series versus Lehigh including wins in each of the last two seasons. The Crusaders picked up a 2-1 win at home in 2007 and blanked the Mountain Hawks 3-0 last year in Bethlehem.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 3 p.m. from Linda Johnson Smith Stadium in Worcester, Mass.
