Hojnacki named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week
10/11/2010 8:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh women's soccer senior Natalie Hojnacki has been named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday. Hojnacki is in the midst of a three-game goal streak after scoring twice vs. Colgate and once more against Bucknell over the weekend. The Mountain Hawks won both games to move within a single point of first place in the Patriot League standings.
The weekly awards have been numerous for the 7-2-2 Mountain Hawks. Hojnacki becomes Lehigh's second offensive player of the week, joining seniors Liz Carlos (Sept. 7) and Glynn Fitzer (Sept. 13). The Mountain Hawks have also won defensive and goalkeeper of the week twice and rookie of the week once.
One of the hottest players in the conference and the nation, Hojnacki netted three of Lehigh's five goals over the weekend. Both also stood as game-winning goals to help lead the Mountain Hawks to two crucial league wins.
Hojnacki has racked up four goals and three assists over her last three games, all since being inserted into the starting lineup on Oct. 3. Her four goals and 11 points are tied for the team-lead while also tying a career-high originally set last season. Overall, she's had a hand in seven of the team's last 10 goals over that three-game stretch.
After a one goal, three assist effort against NJIT on Oct. 3, Hojnacki rode the momentum into conference action last weekend. Facing defending Patriot League champion Colgate on Friday, she became the fifth Mountain Hawk to record a multiple goal game this season. The first came at 63:50 as she took a centering pass from junior Genna Pepe and somehow found the back of the net. That gave Lehigh a 2-0 lead and proved to be the difference as the Raiders responded with a goal less than seven minutes later. She added her second goal to effectively put the game away at 84:11 as her shot from outside the box squirted through to make it 3-1.
Hojnacki enjoyed a similar day on Sunday against Bucknell, finishing a nifty chip pass from Fitzer to give Lehigh a 2-0 advantage. Like Friday, that goal proved to be the difference as the Bison eventually cut the lead to 2-1.
The award is extra special for Hojnacki, who was recognized prior to Sunday's game as part of Senior Day. She is one of six Mountain Hawks playing their final seasons in the brown and white.
Lehigh returns to action on Wednesday when it travel to Princeton for a nonconference showdown against the Tigers. The Mountain Hawks return home for their final home game on Saturday when they host Holy Cross at 4 p.m.
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