Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh heads south to battle Navy
10/8/2010 5:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Fresh off an emotional 1-0 victory over rival Lafayette, the Lehigh men's soccer team will travel to Annapolis, Md. on Saturday to take on Navy at 7 p.m. Three huge points in the Patriot League standings will be up for grabs as the teams enter Saturday's contest tied for third in the standings with three points apiece.
Lehigh (4-4-1) fell in its league opener at No. 24 Colgate, but responded with a 1-0 victory over Lafayette on October 1 at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Sophomore Austin Decker netted the lone goal in the 76th minute and senior Jonathan Nydell earned his fourth shutout of the season. Junior Kevin Strunk made a huge play in the 80th minute of the match, clearing a potential Lafayette goal off the goalline and out of danger. For his efforts, Strunk was named the Patriot League BRINE Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
The Mountain Hawks are led offensively by junior Joe Puleo, who owns four goals in nine matches. Decker is second on the team with two goals and four points, while Strunk, freshman James Meyerkord and junior Neal Melchionni each have three points to their credit.
Navy enters Saturday's showdown with a 6-2-1 overall record and a 1-1 mark in league play, defeating Army and falling to Bucknell. The Midshipmen boast two five-goal scorers in Dave Arnold, the league's leading scorer, and Michael Rakoczy. Navy is the highest-scoring team in the Patriot League, averaging 2.11 goals per game. The team has been equally stingy at the defensive end, conceding the fewest goals per game in the league with a 0.67 clip.
Both teams enter the weekend ranked in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional poll. The Midshipmen currently occupy the No. 4 spot, while Lehigh claims the No. 6 position.
Both teams enter the weekend ranked in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional poll. The Midshipmen currently occupy the No. 4 spot, while Lehigh claims the No. 6 position.
In 50 all-time meetings, the Midshipmen hold a 30-15-5 overall advantage against Lehigh dating back to 1922. The Mountain Hawks have won nine of the last 10 meetings and have never lost at Navy's Glenn Warner Soccer Facility, holding a 4-0 record. Most recently, Navy edged Lehigh by a 2-1 score in overtime at the Ulrich Sports Complex. There has not been a draw in the head-to-head series since 1939.
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