Lehigh travels to Navy for pivotal matchup
4/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh heads to Annapolis on Saturday afternoon for a pivotal showdown versus the Navy Midshipmen. The Mountain Hawks will look to snap a two-game skid, which includes a 14-10 setback to No. 15 Penn State on Wednesday in University Park. Navy comes into this weekend having won three straight, including a 16-8 victory over Saint Mary’s on Tuesday in Annapolis. Lehigh will clinch a spot in the 2009 Patriot League Tournament with a win on Saturday coupled with a loss by Holy Cross versus Lafayette.
Lehigh will look to sophomore Lauren Dykstra to lead the Mountain Hawks on offense. The second year standout leads the Patriot League in goals-per-game, game-winning goals, ground balls-per-game and ranks second in points-per-game. A native of New Jersey, Dykstra has totaled 51 goals and 58 points this season, including a five-goal performance versus the Nittany Lions earlier this week. Junior Inneke Carmola continues to lead the Brown and White in assists with 18 to go along with her 22 goals, while freshman Kelly Draper has found the back of the net 32 times.
Dykstra also leads Lehigh in caused turnovers with 20, while senior captain Sarah Fudin has caused 17 and Tess McGrath has totaled ten. Dykstra’s 65 ground balls and 33 draw controls lead the Mountain Hawks and in goal, junior Kelsy Ferris has sent back 95 shots in 756 minutes of action.
Navy is riding a three-game winning streak entering Saturday’s contest. The Midshipmen have defeated American, Davidson and Saint Mary’s during that time. Erin Rawlick is among the Patriot League leaders in goals (35) and assists (32), while Katrina Nietsch (24 goals, 10 assists) and Caitlin Mandrin Hill (19 goals, 15 assists) have also posted double figure totals in goals and assists. Navy is the league’s second leading scoring team, averaging 13.55 goals per contest.
Kierstin King leads Navy in ground balls with 30, while Rawlick is the team leader in draw controls with 30. Mandrin Hill has caused 27 turnovers and in goal, Elaina Ponchione has sent back 93 shots in 710 minutes of action.
Saturday’s game will be just the second meeting ever between Lehigh and Navy in women’s lacrosse. The Mountain Hawks won last year’s contest 15-12 in Bethlehem on the strength of a 9-0 run to begin the second half. Dykstra finished with four goals in the win, while Carmola and Sara MacIntyre both scored three times apiece.
The Mountain Hawks and Midshipmen will get things started at 1:00 on Saturday.
