Mountain Hawks open home slate vs. Cornell
9/10/2009 3:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh returns to the pitch for its 2009 home opener on Friday as the Mountain Hawks will play host to the Cornell Big Red at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The Mountain Hawks come in off a 1-0-1 performance last weekend in which Lehigh tied La Salle and then posted a 1-0 road victory at Albany. The Lehigh defense will look to continue its strong play as of late as the Mountain Hawks did not allow a goal in 200 minutes of action last weekend and is currently riding a streak of 257 minutes without allowing a goal.
After playing a previously undefeated La Salle side to a 0-0 draw last Friday night, Lehigh was kept off the scoreboard through 88 minutes Sunday at Albany, but junior Glynn Fitzer broke through in the 89th minute, scoring her first goal of the season with an assist from senior Natalie Hojnacki. The goal gave Lehigh a 1-0 win, the Mountain Hawks second win in as many years over the Great Danes, with the game-winning strike on both occasions coming in the 89th minute.
Much of the reason for Lehigh’s early season success has been the play of its defensive unit. Senior co-captain Hailey Coonrad has returned to form and has served as an anchor in the back line, while Lehigh has received quality defensive minutes from a number of players including senior Alex Warren, sophomores Jana Basubas, Leah Kulp and Hannah Cochran and freshmen Stevie Griglak and Mary Grace Doyle. Behind Lehigh’s backline, junior Lauren Mains has played exceptionally well in goal, with 26 saves and a 0.47 goals-against average. Mains totaled 11 saves in two matches last week and has not allowed a goal since the first half of Lehigh’s game against Virginia Tech on August 30.
Cornell comes into Friday’s match-up with a 0-1-1 record. The Big Red began their 2009 season with a scoreless draw against Binghamton last Friday and then lost 3-1 to Niagara on Sunday. Sophomore Sidra Bonner is the lone goal scorer for the Big Red with her first career goal against Niagara. Sophomore goalkeepers Kelly Murphy and Megan Bartlett have each started one game in goal this season, with the duo totaling nine saves in two contests.
These two teams met last year in Ithaca, N.Y. with Lehigh winning 1-0 in the first-ever meeting between the schools in women’s soccer. Danielle Fritz score the lone goal of the match with an assist from Cochran in the 70th minute. Mains made a then-career-high nine saves to earn the shutout.
