Lehigh faces league foe Holy Cross this weekend
4/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh returns to action on Saturday afternoon when the Mountain Hawks play game two of a four game road trip in Worcester, Massachusetts versus league foe Holy Cross. Lehigh will look to extend its six-game winning streak, which includes an 11-6 victory over Drexel on Monday in Philadelphia. Freshman Kelly Draper, along with sophomores Lauren Dykstra and Allison Thomas scored two goals apiece in the win over the Dragons as Lehigh extended its winning streak to six games for the first time in 24 seasons. Holy Cross enters this weekend looking to snap a seven-game losing streak, including a 15-7 setback to Yale on Wednesday in Worcester.
Lehigh’s offense has been hitting on all cylinders of late, as the Mountain Hawks have averaged nearly 17 goals per game during their winning streak, outscoring opponents 99 to 44 during that time. Dykstra has taken her game to another level, scoring 31 goals in those six games, which has raised her season total to a team leading 42. Dykstra also paces the Brown and White in ground balls with 56, which is a 5.3 per-game average, good for first in America. The Mendham, New Jersey native has also totaled 31 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers.
Draper continues her solid play for Lehigh with 31 goals and six assists, while junior Inneke Carmola and Meagan Tenety are the top playmakers with 16 and 12 assists, respectively. Carmola has added 19 goals and Tenety has found the back of the net 14 times, while senior Sara MacIntyre (19 goals) and Thomas (14 scores) have also hit for double figures in goals.
The Mountain Hawks defense has surrendered only 98 goals this season, including five games of fewer than ten. Junior Kelsy Ferris has been steady in between the pipes with 78 saves in 632 minutes of action, raising her career total to 431 stops, which is tenth best in Patriot League history. Senior Sarah Fudin is the leader in caused turnovers with 16, while classmate Tess McGrath is third with ten CTs.
The Crusaders have not won since downing Vermont in double overtime on February 28. Saturday’s game will be Holy Cross’ fifth home game in its last six overall, and its final game in Worcester this season. Katie Gardner is Holy Cross’ leading scorer with 17 goals and 17 assists, while Megan Fenton has scored 22 goals and Meg O’Leary has added 17 scores.
Lisa Gagne is the team leader in ground balls with 26 and has added 13 draw controls, while Annie Boylan has won 21 draw controls. MaryKate Finnegan has caused 13 turnovers, and Gagne has totaled ten. In goal for the Crusaders Amy Martin has stopped 104 shots in 571 minutes of action, having faced nearly 300 shots during that time.
The Mountain Hawks and Crusaders get things started at noon on Saturday from Hart Turf Field.
