Lehigh University Athletics
Deep women's soccer squad looks to defend title in 2011
8/26/2011 3:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The 2010 Lehigh women's soccer team reached heights unachieved by its predecessors, capturing the program's first-ever Patriot League Championship. The Mountain Hawks then put up a valiant effort in the NCAA Tournament at eighth nationally-ranked Virginia, holding the Cavaliers scoreless into the 67th minute and in doing so, proving they can hang with the nation's best.
The past has passed and focus now turns squarely to 2011 with the same goals in mind: qualify for the Patriot League Tournament and compete for a league title and NCAA berth. Keep in mind how bunched the 2010 standings were and how crucial the league tournament proved to be. Despite going undefeated through its final six league games, the Mountain Hawks were the No. 3 seed, but still pulled out 1-0 wins over the top two seeds to win the ultimate prize. If you first make the tournament, then play well in it, chances are good you'll be headed to the round of 64.
Second-year head coach Eric Lambinus knows that the nonleague schedule builds to the Patriot League slate, then hopefully the league tournament and NCAA Tournament.
“We have the nonleague part of the season when we not only try to prepare ourselves for the Patriot League season, but we also play really good competition,” he said. “We face some strong teams who will be vying for NCAA Tournament berths.”
The Mountain Hawks play three games against strong Ivy League foes, including their home finale against defending league champion and NCAA Tournament qualifier Penn. Lehigh will certainly have its opportunities to face high-quality opponents.
“We have the beginning part of the season when we're trying to find our identity,” said Lambinus. “By the time we hit Patriot League play, we want to have a good idea of what our strengths and weaknesses are, play to our strengths, get a better idea of our rotation and know our core players.”
In the end, the Mountain Hawks will feature a deep team in 2011, with 17 returnees and nine freshmen. Three All-League performers return in seniors Jana Basubas and Genna Pepe, and junior Ardyn Olszko while an eager freshman class hopes to help fill the gaps left by a talented graduating class which featured Lehigh's all-time goals against average leader (Lauren Mains) and two of the top point-getters in program history (Liz Carlos and Natalie Hojnacki). Not to mention the likes of Lena Cannon, Glynn Fitzer and Lauren Glazebrook, who were just as much a part of the team's success as anyone.
But that was last season. The Mountain Hawks are eager and ready for 2011; if they can find a way to repeat, they'd become the first Patriot League team to do so since Navy won back-to-back titles in 2006 and '07.
GOALKEEPERS
One of the biggest question marks heading into the season will be in goal. Not whether or not Lehigh's goalkeeping will be strong, but how the minutes will be divided up among two talented individuals. Replacing one of the program's top goalies in Mains will be a daunting task, but sophomore Ali Griffin and freshman Ashley Blanks are each ready and able to step in.
“We're going to be a little inexperienced in goal, but we think we have a lot of talent in both of them,” said Lambinus. “Ali got a couple games under her belt last year, then she played the entire spring and had a great spring. Ashley came in well prepared from a really good club team, so it's definitely a competition.”
The competition is still very much open, with both likely seeing significant action this fall.
“We're hoping that all year, the two battle each other, support each other and make each other better,” said Lambinus. “They can learn from each other. I think they each have a lot of talent. I'm confident that each one of them can play very well.”
DEFENDERS
In front of the goalkeeper will be Lehigh's most experienced position: defense. The Mountain Hawks return five players who saw significant action at that position: seniors Pepe, Leah Kulp, Hannah Cochran and Megan Cain along with a junior (Olszko). Enter sophomore Heather Camperson, who emerged last spring and carried it over into the preseason, and you have a deep position with a lot of flexibility.
“We've probably seen the most improvement from Heather from freshman to sophomore year,” said Lambinus. “She's fit, hungry and ready to go. She has really solidified herself. I really think Heather will have a breakout year.”
Camperson will likely play right or left back, giving Lambinus that flexibility to move Pepe to midfield. Cain has already transitioned to midfield, where she'll see significant action.
“I think Genna's one of the best outside backs in the league, but I think she has more talent and has the ability to play in our midfield as well,” said Lambinus. “She plays a couple positions really well for us. We know what she can do at outside back; we know she's confident there, but we might have the ability to move her into a more attacking position.”
Lambinus expects two freshmen to be in the mix at defense: Jordan Goodman and Danielle Salans.
“We're really confident that we have five, six or maybe even seven players who could start for us,” he said. “We feel really comfortable putting some different people in there.”
MIDFIELDERS
The loss of Cannon and Fitzer is tough for the midfield, but the Mountain Hawks do return First Team All-Patriot League honoree and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Candidate Jana Basubas. An exceptional two-way player, Basubas is primarily a defensive midfielder, but also scored her fair share of goals in 2010, finishing with four (along with an assist) for nine points. She also helped spearhead a defense which allowed only 21 goals in 20 games, three over the final four games and 15 over the final 17. That includes one stretch of three straight shutouts bridging the end of the regular season and the entire Patriot League Tournament.
Senior Ali MacLeod and her three goals also return while junior Isabelle Li has really come to the forefront in preseason camp.
“Izzy Li played a significant amount of time in the midfield and is probably having the best preseason of any girl on the team,” said Lambinus. “We also have someone like Katie Gavalchin, who came on late in the season and had a great Patriot League Tournament and played well in the NCAA Tournament game. She's in the mix at center mid, but it's hard to get into that spot with Jana in there, who plays 90 minutes. We're confident that Katie can step in and do a really good job when we call on her.”
Junior Mary Grace Doyle will also see playing time at midfield, along with Cain and possibly Pepe.
“Though we lost a couple players, I think we do still have a lot of experience in the midfield,” said Lambinus. “It's definitely a position of strength for us. We might put Genna more in the midfield. Regardless, it's good to have a lot of girls with experience.
One freshman who has played herself into significant playing time is Elizabeth Bergman from nearby Fleetwood High School.
“Bergman has played really well in preseason and has actually performed in the top two or three players in our fitness and technical testing,” said Lambinus. “I think she's solidified herself to take a good amount of playing time in that midfield position, which is exciting for us.”
Another freshman who could hit the field is Sophie Mayeux.
“Sophie came in prepared and ready to play,” said Lambinus. “She played for two different club teams and has played in national championship games. She has a lot of experience; we're fortunate that our freshmen have played in really high level games, so we don't think the moment or the adjustment is as big because they've played in high-level games.”
FORWARDS
The Mountain Hawks return a pair of sophomores at forward, led by sophomore Murphee Greeley who posted 10 points (three goals, four assists) in only 11 games in an injury-shortened season.
“At points last year, Murphee was our best forward until she got hurt and she's only improved over the past year,” said Lambinus. “We expect her to have a breakout season. We're excited because the Patriot League hasn't seen her play and until you play against her, you just have no idea how good she is.”
Another sophomore is Paige Dyrek, who had two goals and an assist in 2010, including the eventual game-winner in her fourth collegiate game against La Salle.
“Paige played a lot of minutes and scored some big goals last year, but we're counting on her to do a lot more this season,” said Lambinus. “We also have a couple freshmen and a couple other players who could absolutely fill in some spots in there. Izzy has played forward for us. Sarah Motta is a freshman who will probably get some playing time in there while Darby Wiegand is another girl doing really well in preseason and will continue to fight for some time.”
Sophomore Emily Strackhouse and freshman Isabel Clements are also in the mix at forward and hope to see action as well.
OUTLOOK
The word for 2011 is depth. The 2010 squad was truly a team, winning nine different Patriot League weekly awards from eight different players. Noone won a major award, yet the team won the biggest award there was, a Patriot League Championship. That team has changed, but the same team attitude has certainly carried over into this year.
In the end, little things win championships. It starts at the top with senior captains Basubas, Kulp and Pepe leading the charge.
“This group used last spring to find their way and their leadership qualities,” said Lambinus. “They've done a really good job of leading our young group of players in a great direction to figure out how to compete on a daily basis. We like that our group of captains are three of our fittest and most dedicated girls. It's great when your leaders are great role models, on and off the field.
“Our underclassmen look up to not only the captains, but the seniors as well, and they want to play for them,” Lambinus continued. “The team is only as good as the senior class. It's not always talent-wise, it's just the way they conduct themselves and the way they lead the team. It's really up to the seniors to take control and create that identity for the rest of the team to follow. We have a big freshman class and they have an unbelievable set of role models.”
Those intangibles carry over into work ethic as well.
“[The players are] passionate, they have unbelievable training habits, they're really passionate about soccer and the program, and they're focused on their goals (both individually and as a team),” said Lambinus. “I think they have a really good idea of what they want to accomplish and have a really good plan on how to accomplish it.
“I have a hard time believing there will be any teams fitter than us,” he continued. “I don't think we'll ever get outworked. We're a pretty technically sound team who knows how to play soccer. We'll put a lot of pressure on teams by the way we play; we're hoping to dictate the style of play in a lot of games. We were able to do that last year and I think we'll be able to do that this year.”
MHT EP4 - Women's Soccer
Thursday, October 23
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Soccer
Thursday, September 04
2025 Women's Soccer Season Preview
Tuesday, August 12
Women's Soccer vs. Navy
Friday, September 20
