Sunday, August 26
Ulrich Sports Complex
1:00:00 PM
Lehigh University
0
vs
1
Liberty
Lehigh drops 1-0 final to Liberty
8/26/2012 8:13:00 PM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh field hockey team bounced back from its season opening loss with a strong effort, but was unable to beat Liberty goalie Brooke Morley in 1-0 loss on Sunday afternoon. It marked the Mountain Hawks' second straight one goal defeat to start the season. Lehigh sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Maltinsky-Wilson nearly matched Morley save-for-save, making nine stops in the defeat.
“I thought Sydney played great,” said Lehigh head coach Stacey Blue. “She's been working on a lot of things, so I think she accomplished that today. She did a really good job.”
Lehigh held a 15-13 edge in total shots and 9-7 in penalty corners, but were unable to convert. The Mountain Hawks owned a 9-8 advantage in the first half and 6-5 in the second, earning five corners in the first half and four in the second.
“Our pattern passing was great,” said Blue. “I thought we played well, but it was one of those games that could've been anyone's for the taking. Unfortunately it was there's. But our effort was there.”
The Mountain Hawks came out strong, firing seven shots on goal within the first 20 minutes, but Morley was there to stop them all. Liberty nearly matched Lehigh shot-for-shot, leading into the game's only goal at 30:58. Off a penalty corner, there was a scramble in front of the cage as Maltinsky-Wilson made a pair of saves, but was unable to stop Megan Johnson's rebound attempt. She made it 1-0 Flames heading into the half.
Lehigh turned on the pressure in the second, but continued to stop every shot sent her way. The Mountain Hawks made one last charge with less than three minutes remaining. Their closest call came in that sequence as the ball crossed the goal line, but the play had been whistled dead for going off a Lehigh player's foot.
“I think it's showing they're fit [playing two games in two days], but we just need to have urgency in the circle and be able to finish,” said Blue. “Overall, I was pleased with today's game.”
Lehigh returns to action on Friday when it travels to Penn to face the Quakers. Gametime is set for 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks return home next Sunday (Sept. 2) to host Saint Francis (Pa.) at 3 p.m.
“These two games were definitely learning experiences and we can only improve from here,” said Blue. “They helped us moving forward. Going into Penn, we're going to take what we did this weekend and tweak some things. We're looking forward to playing them.”
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks throughout the 2012 season.
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