Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks begin busy week at Quinnipiac Wednesday
9/13/2011 3:19:00 PM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Fresh off its thrilling win over La Salle, the Lehigh field hockey team heads to Quinnipiac on Wednesday to face the Bobcats in a game originally postponed due to Hurricane Irene. The Mountain Hawks will play three games in a one-week span, beginning Wednesday (3 p.m.) then continuing against Fairfield Saturday and at Saint Joseph's Sunday. Lehigh looks to ride the momentum from Sunday when it came back from a 2-0 deficit to score four of the game's final five goals for a 4-3 overtime victory.
Two standouts were recognized on Monday with Patriot League Weekly Awards. Senior Abby Tilton garnered Offensive Player of the Week while sophomore Sierra Segear earned Goalkeeper of the Week. Tilton posted a career-high two goals and five points against the Explorers, including the game-winning goal in overtime, while Segear made 14 saves, including 11 big stops in the second half.
The win over La Salle marked the Mountain Hawks' first in the all-time series since 2007, snapping a three-game losing streak against the Explorers. It also marked the second time Lehigh went to overtime in as many home games.
Not to be forgotten was junior Kim Eng, who posted two goals and an assist last week. After netting Lehigh's only goal at Monmouth, she went on to score the game-tying goal late in the second half on Sunday before setting up Tilton for the game-winner in overtime. Through four games, Tilton now leads the team with six points (two goals, two assist) while Eng is a close second with five (two goals, one assist). Seven different Mountain Hawks have registered a point, including freshman Erika Schmidt who dished her first-career assist on Sunday.
Predicted third in the preseason NEC poll, Quinnipiac has jumped out to a 3-2 record after five games thus far. Two of the Bobcats' three wins have come against Patriot League foes Holy Cross (6-2) and Colgate (6-0). The other came against Yale (3-2). Quinnipiac is coming off a 6-1 loss at #6 Penn State Sunday. The squad is led offensively by Jess Rubin, who has nine points (four goals, one assist). Kaitlyn Notarianni is right behind with eight (three goals, two assists) while Danielle Allan and Kimberly Cunniff each have seven. Nicole Lewis has started all five games in goal, posting a 2.95 GAA and .738 save percentage.
Wednesday will mark the second all-time meeting between Lehigh and Quinnipiac. The Bobcats won the one and only matchup last year, 4-1, in Bethlehem.
The Mountain Hawks continue their busy stretch this weekend when they host Fairfield on Saturday (1 p.m.) before heading to Saint Joseph's on Sunday (3:30 p.m.).
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