Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh looks to rebound at Princeton Tuesday
10/31/2011 7:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In its penultimate regular season game, the Lehigh men's soccer team will travel to take on Ivy League opponent Princeton Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a heartbreaking loss at American and they will be looking to regain momentum against a tough Tigers team prior to Lehigh's crucial final Patriot League match Saturday against Army.
In snowy conditions over the weekend and with first place on the line, Lehigh fell to American 1-0 as the Eagles found the game-winning goal in the 90th minute. Seniors Jordie Ciuffetelli and Daniel Odenwelder combined for six of the Mountain Hawks' seven shots, but Lehigh was unable to find the back of the net. That wasn't a problem in Lehigh's previous three games as the Mountain Hawks had scored eight goals in that span including their highest output of the season in a 4-1 win at Holy Cross. Lehigh has three players tied atop its points list as seniors Joe Puleo, Neal Melchionni and Kevin Strunk each have three goals and one assist (seven points).
The Lehigh offense will try to pick things back up as it will look to keep pace with a Princeton offense that ranks tied for first in the Ivy League with 1.64 goals per game. The Tigers' highest total of the season came at Seton Hall when Princeton scored seven times. The Tigers are led by Matt Sanner who leads the team with six goals and Antoine Hoppenot who leads the team with 13 points (four goals, five assists). Princeton is coming off 1-1, double overtime tie to Cornell on Sunday.
While the Tigers will look to find the back of the net, they will be doing so against a nationally-ranked Lehigh defense. The Mountain Hawks entered last week ranked No. 2 in the nation on goals against average (0.30), No. 2 in saves percentage (0.927) and No. 4 in shutout percentage (0.67). While the Lehigh defense looks to keep Princeton under wraps, the Tigers have struggled on that side of the ball as they are last in the Ivy League in goals allowed (2.0 per game).
Tuesday night's matchup will be the 40th all-time meeting between Princeton and Lehigh; the Tigers hold a 30-8-1 edge overall. The teams first met in 1922 when Princeton defeated Lehigh 1-0 and last met in 2010 when Lehigh won 3-2 at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The win last season against Princeton was Lehigh's 500th win in program history as the Mountain Hawks erased a two-goal deficit in the second half.
Along with LIVE stats, the game will be web streamed on GoPrincetonTigers.tv for subscribers.
After Princeton, Lehigh will have its final Patriot League regular season match on Saturday night at 7 p.m. against Army at the Ulrich Sports Complex. It will be senior night and a crucial game as Lehigh looks to lock up a Patriot League Tournament berth.
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