Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh travels to face rival Lafayette Saturday
10/6/2011 4:53:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's soccer team is currently in a three-way tie in second place with four points in the Patriot League standings. One of those teams will be the Mountain Hawks' opponent Saturday night as they head to Easton, Pa. to take on rival Lafayette at 7 p.m. It will be a battle of two of the top defenses not only in the league, but in the nation with league standings and pride on the line.
“You want to put teams behind you in terms of points so it's important regardless of the team especially with tiebreakers,” said head coach Dean Koski. “The fact that it is Lafayette increase the emotional quotient of the game and the intensity is going to be different than against any other team.”
Starting on Saturday at 6:45 p.m., there will be a LIVE interactive blog. CLICK HERE to follow along and join the conversation!
Lehigh's defense is ranked No. 3 in the nation in goals against average (0.20) as the Mountain Hawks have given up just two goals in nine games this season. Lafayette is close behind nationally ranked No. 5 as it has given up four goals in nine games (0.44). The two schools are also nationally ranked in shutout percentage as the Mountain Hawks have produced seven shutouts and Lafayette has five. Lehigh is ranked No. 3 in the nation in that category while Lafayette is tied at No. 14.
Starting on Saturday at 6:45 p.m., there will be a LIVE interactive blog. CLICK HERE to follow along and join the conversation!
Lehigh's defense is ranked No. 3 in the nation in goals against average (0.20) as the Mountain Hawks have given up just two goals in nine games this season. Lafayette is close behind nationally ranked No. 5 as it has given up four goals in nine games (0.44). The two schools are also nationally ranked in shutout percentage as the Mountain Hawks have produced seven shutouts and Lafayette has five. Lehigh is ranked No. 3 in the nation in that category while Lafayette is tied at No. 14.
Both teams are led from the back as Lehigh's sophomore keeper Ciaran Nugent ranks No. 2 in the nation in save percentage (.951) and No. 3 in GAA (.196) while Lafayette keeper Graham Heydt ranks No. 4 in save percentage (0.912) and No. 5 in GAA (0.403).
“It will be very tightly contested,” said Koski. “Lafayette has shown that it is very capable of playing good teams and getting results. They are a very good team. Over the course of 90 minutes, it will come down to who is most consistent.”
Lehigh's defensive effort has propelled them to a No. 3 ranking in the Mid-Atlantic Region while the Leopards are right behind them ranked No. 5.
While both teams are defensive minded, Lehigh has been working hard on improving its offensive game and will look to see the fruits of its labor Saturday.
“We've been working on creating more chances and it's going to be really important to make the most of our chances because everyone is playing with a little more on the line,” said Koski. “We need to get more balls on frame and connect with our passes better in the attacking third. We have to be efficient in what we do.”
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 107 times with Lehigh holding the edge 53-44-10. Lehigh beat Lafayette for the first time in 1915 and most recently last season when the Mountain Hawks won 1-0 on an Austin Decker goal in the 76th minute.
“We are just focusing on what we need to do to get three points,” said Koski. “You don't set out to play for a draw, you go to win. It will be a great environment and it's a wonderful tradition and something both teams look forward to.”
Along with LIVE stats, the match will be broadcast live online on the Lafayette Sports Network.
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