Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh battles Lafayette in mid-season PL clash
9/30/2010 5:34:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa – The Lehigh men's soccer team will look for its first Patriot League victory of the season on Saturday when rival Lafayette makes the trip to the Ulrich Sports Complex at 7 p.m. The Leopards represent Lehigh's oldest soccer rival as the teams first met in the Mountain Hawks' inaugural season of 1913. Since then, the squads have dueled 106 times with Lehigh claiming victories in 52 all-time matches.
The Mountain Hawks (3-4-1, 0-1 Patriot League) will be playing at home for the first time since September 10, following a four-match road swing. Lehigh is 2-1-1 on home turf this year and has scored six of its eight goals at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
Leading the way on offense is junior Joe Puleo, who owns four goals, including two game-winners. Juniors Neal Melchionni and Kevin Strunk have recorded three points this season, while sophomore Austin Decker, freshman James Meyerkord, senior James Graf and freshman Ben Wysocki have each tallied two. Senior keeper Jonathan Nydell has posted a league-best three shutouts and owns a 1.10 goals against average.
Lafayette enters the match with a 5-2-2 record and is currently ranked No. 3 in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Leopards knocked off Holy Cross in their league opener by a score of 3-0 and also own victories over Rider, Stony Brook, Temple and NJIT. Lafayette averages 1.67 goals per game, which ranks second in the Patriot League behind Navy's 2.57 clip. The Leopards have also been stingy at the defensive end, allowing the third-fewest goals (nine) in the league. Goalkeeper Andrew Pianko leads the Patriot League with 48 saves and has earned two shutouts. Sean Peckham and Kyle Scharfenberg pace the offense with nine points and eight points, respectively.
The Lehigh-Lafayette rivalry spans 97 years in men's soccer since the teams first squared off in 1913. Lehigh owns a 52-44-10 record against its rival, defeating Lafayette for the first time in 1915 and most recently in 2006.
At halftime of Saturday's match, Lehigh will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its 2000 men's soccer Patriot League championship team. The squad won 13 games and defeated Lafayette on the road in the title game on penalty kicks.
Tickets for Saturday's clash can be purchased at the gate for only $5; students and faculty will be admitted free with a valid Lehigh ID. Free student buses will leave from Dialouge Hall (between Taylor Gym and Grace Hall) at 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. to the Ulrich Sports Complex.
Tickets for Saturday's clash can be purchased at the gate for only $5; students and faculty will be admitted free with a valid Lehigh ID. Free student buses will leave from Dialouge Hall (between Taylor Gym and Grace Hall) at 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. to the Ulrich Sports Complex.
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