Lehigh University
Fairleigh Dickinson
Lehigh holds FDU scoreless, wins 2-0
9/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
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TEANECK, N.J. – The Lehigh men’s soccer team continued its strong play Tuesday night with a 2-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson. Junior Zach Gould scored the Mountain Hawks first goal in the 37th minute and that is all Lehigh would need as it recorded its first shutout of the season. The Mountain Hawks improve to 5-2-2 on the season and they are 4-0-1 in their last five games.
“It was a very challenging game,” head coach Dean Koski said. “Fairleigh Dickinson is a very technical team and they play on field turf which is hard to get used to.”
It took almost the entire first half, but Lehigh was able to get the first goal and it helped swing the game in its favor. Senior captain Adam Gazda placed a perfect corner kick to classmate Adam Welch who headed one right to Gould and the forward was able to strike it into the net and past the keeper.
“Once we got that first goal we settled in,” Koski said. “It was very important that we went into the half with the lead.”
Lehigh kept things going in the second half as Welch, the reigning Patriot League and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week, provided the Mountain Hawks with an insurance goal to seal the game. Gazda placed another great corner kick to the front of the net and Welch struck it in mid-air and knocked it into the net.
“Since we have moved Welch to the outside he has been very productive offensively,” Koski said. “He is an incredible attacker and he is also a very good defender. His offensive production shows how versatile he is on the field. Overall it is a product of how good of a player he is.”
Despite taking the game, Lehigh was outshot by FDU 10-5, but the Knights couldn’t find the back of the net as Mountain Hawks junior keeper Jonathan Nydell made four saves.
“FDU getting more shots off was definitely a bi-product of them playing at home and you could tell they were a fairly energized team,” Koski said. “We also subbed in a lot of guys tonight which disrupts the flow of our game and the shots against us were not surprising.”
Lehigh will have another important conference matchup this weekend as it takes on archrival Lafayette and Koski knows this is the most important part of the season.
“I always say that heading into October it is the most critical stretch of the season. It is important that we stay fit and healthy as we move forward,” Koski concluded.
The Mountain Hawks will travel to Easton Saturday for their showdown with the Leopards at 7 p.m.
