Wednesday, September 28
Ulrich Sports Complex
4:00:00 PM
Lehigh University
3
vs
2
Siena
Balanced team effort leads Lehigh over Siena, 3-2
9/28/2011 11:33:00 PM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Seven different Mountain Hawks recorded a point while sophomore goalkeeper Sierra Segear was strong once again to lead the Lehigh field hockey team to a 3-2 win over Siena on Wednesday. Lehigh jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the second half before the Saints responded with two straight tallies, but the Mountain Hawks hung on down the stretch to pick up their second home victory in their last three tries.
Balanced team effort leads Lehigh over Siena, 3-2
The win improves Lehigh's all-time record against Siena to 13-0. After scoring one goal in the first half, the Mountain Hawks netted two in a 3:08 span early in the second to open its largest lead of the game, and season.
“Our goal was to be more offensive in the second; the beginning of the second half was what we were looking for,” said Lehigh head coach Stacey Blue. “We just need to connect as a unit for 70 minutes and when we're ahead, keep the momentum going. It's nice to pick up the win.”
Siena came out strong in the first half, outshooting the Mountain Hawks, 10-4, while earning 10 penalty corners to Lehigh's three. However, Segear and her defense came up big to keep the Saints off the scoreboard.
The offense capitalized as junior Kim Eng scored her fifth of the season at 14:51 to give Lehigh a 1-0 advantage. She came in on the left side and found the top right corner of the cage to break the deadlock.
The Mountain Hawks extended their lead just 1:26 into the second half. First, freshman Steph Fratoni tipped a Marie Mignogna shot off a penalty corner past Siena goalkeeper Beth Meyers. Then, at 39:34, senior Madison Ingal fired a shot from the top of the circle past Meyers, assisted by junior Kelsey Zeswitz and senior Abby Tilton. That made it 3-0 with just over 30 minutes still remaining.
“We've been working on executing corners and did a good job with those, especially in the second half,” said Blue. “We could finish a little better, but we're improving.”
Both teams had chances down the stretch, but it was Siena who made it interesting with goals at 43:55 and 58:37.
Lehigh held a 15-9 shot advantage in the second half to pull even at 19 for the game. Siena held the edge in penalty corners, 15-8. Segear finished with 13 saves, her sixth double-digit save performance of the season, while Fratoni posted a defensive save. Meyers finished with 11 stops for the Saints.
The Mountain Hawks return to action on Saturday to kick off a busy weekend. Lehigh travels to American for its Patriot League opener at 12 p.m. before returning home to host defending NEC Champion Rider on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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