Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks enjoy productive spring season
4/30/2009 4:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women’s soccer team recently put the finishing touches on a successful spring campaign, which culminated in the program’s annual Alumni Game on Saturday April 18. The spring season also featured five scrimmages as the Mountain Hawks worked towards improving on last year’s 6-10-1 campaign and working towards getting back to the Patriot League tournament, following a two-year absence, in 2009.
“The big thing was we regained a lot of confidence as a group,” said Lehigh head coach Manny Oudin. “We realized that we are a good team with talented players and when we play with focus and carry the right mentality we can be very difficult to beat.”
Among the teams Lehigh scrimmaged during the spring were Temple, La Salle, Delaware and Saint Joseph’s, along with rival Lafayette, who the Mountain Hawks beat 2-0.
“We saw a nice progression in our play throughout the spring,” noted Oudin, who enters his eighth season. “It’s something you try to develop, playing your best both individually and collectively as a group. We played our best towards the end of the spring season, which was good to see.”
With a 10 player freshman class, and just four players being lost to graduation, the Mountain Hawks had a good-sized squad for the spring season. Oudin was pleased to see good balance on the offensive end of the field, while discussing some standout individual efforts in the spring.
“One of the bigger things was the return to action for Lena Cannon,” said Oudin of his sophomore midfielder who missed the entire 2008 season with an injury. “She emerged as a big part of our central midfield and showed how much of an impact she can have. Liz Carlos also had a good spring in the central midfield as she and Lena combined very well together.
Oudin continued, “Hailey Coonrad will be back for her fifth year and is fully recovered from her injury. She may have had her best off-season since she’s been at Lehigh and we’re excited to have her come back at full strength and be a great element for us in the back.”
The spring season concluded with the Alumni Game at the Ulrich Sports Complex in which approximately 20 former players returned. Lehigh’s current team downed the Alumni team 6-4 in their final event of the spring season.
“The alumni game is a great way to bring closure to our spring season,” said Oudin. “It’s a good atmosphere, and a great opportunity for our team to interact with and get to know former players. It was a day of fun and good will and also gave our alums a chance to get reconnected with our current players and each other.”
The Mountain Hawks will return to work in early August in preparation for the 2009 season.
