Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh hosts Fairfield, travels to Saint Joseph’s in busy weekend
9/16/2011 3:58:00 PM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh field hockey looks to regain its home magic when it hosts Fairfield on Saturday (1 p.m.) at Ulrich Field. The Mountain Hawks (1-4) will then turn around and travel to Saint Joseph's on Sunday (3:30 p.m.) for an intrastate showdown with the Hawks. Lehigh is coming off a valiant effort at Quinnipiac, battling back on two separate occasions, but falling just short.
Please note: Sunday's game at Saint Joseph's will be played on Drexel's campus, the same field where current Lehigh assistant coach Susan Ciufo enjoyed her standout collegiate career.
Please note: Sunday's game at Saint Joseph's will be played on Drexel's campus, the same field where current Lehigh assistant coach Susan Ciufo enjoyed her standout collegiate career.
Trailing 1-0 then 2-1, a resilient Mountain Hawks' squad continued to fight back, tying the score a second time when senior Abby Tilton's chip shot found the back of the cage. Fellow senior Caitlin Donnelly had scored Lehigh's first goal, from junior Kim Eng, to even the score at one midway through the first half.
Quinnipiac continued to earn penalty corners, however, and one final corner with time winding down proved to be the difference as the Bobcats capitalized with 10 players in the offensive zone for the 3-2 victory.
Lehigh had a number of standouts, including sophomore and defending Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week Sierra Segear, who posted 13 saves. Freshman Emily Hu continued her stellar play with already her fourth defensive save of the season. The Mountain Hawks hung tough against a Quinnipiac team predicted third in the preseason NEC standings, a squad who defeated two other Patriot League schools Colgate (6-0) and Holy Cross (6-2).
Fairfield enters with a 4-2 record, defeating Saint Joseph's, Siena, Radford and Saint Francis, all by 2-1 finals, while falling to Drexel and Hofstra. Marit Westenberg leads the team with 12 points (five goals, two assists) while Felicitas has seven (two goals, three assists) and Leah Furey four (two goals). A pair of goalkeepers have seen action, led by Caitlin O'Donnell, who has posted a stellar 0.80 GAA and .750 save percentage. Maddy Sposito has played in four games (starting three) with a 2.00 GAA and .696 save percentage.
Saturday will be the 16th all-time meeting between Lehigh and Fairfield, and third in as many years. The Mountain Hawks are 9-6 against the Stags, winning two of the last three meetings; Fairfield won last season, 2-1. The teams first played in 1992 and met ever year until 2003 before the sides reconvened in '07.
Saint Joseph's is 1-4 on the season, losing its first four games before defeating Penn last time out. Ellen Rowe leads the team with nine points via four goals and an assist while Theresa Testa has five points (all assists) and Therese Doyle and Jordan Martin each have four (two goals). Liz Messaros has started four games in goal, posting a 3.38 GAA and .667 save percentage.
Lehigh and Saint Joe's have split the previous 26 meetings, going 12-12-2. Overall, the Mountain Hawks have lost their last four in the all-time series and haven't defeated Saint Joseph's since a 3-0 home win in 2000. Lehigh enjoyed success in the early going, winning six straight from 1981-89.
The Mountain Hawks will travel to Sacred Heart next weekend to face the Pioneers then the Maine Black Bears in a neutral site game.
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