Mountain Hawks head to Fairfield Friday, host Towson Sunday
9/6/2012 6:17:00 PM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Coming off a pair of competitive games last weekend, the Lehigh field hockey team will travel to Fairfield on Friday (4 p.m.) before hosting Towson Sunday (12 p.m.). The Mountain Hawks have been within a single goal with less than 12 minutes remaining of all four games thus far, but have been unable to get over the hump. The team has seen its bright spots, with a never-say-die attitude leading to numerous comebacks, which have fallen just short.
Last Friday at Penn, Lehigh fell behind 2-0 but used goals from senior Kim Eng and sophomore Lindsay Metzger to pull even in the second half. However, the Quakers responded with three straight goals down the stretch to pull out the 5-2 victory.
Similarly on Sunday, the Mountain Hawks went down 2-0 and pulled as close as 3-2, but couldn't net the equalizer. Eng scored her third goal of the season in the victory; she's had a hand in five of Lehigh's seven goals on the season via three goals and two assists. Eng has earned honorable mention on the Patriot League Weekly Honor Roll each of the last two weeks.
Out of the America East (for field hockey), Fairfield enters Friday with a 2-2 record coming off two straight wins: 4-0 over Yale and 5-4 over Monmouth. The Stags began the season with a 3-1 loss at Hofstra and 2-1 defeat to Bucknell. Reigning America East Player of the Week Felicitas Heinen leads the team with 10 points via four goals and two assists, including three goals and one assist over last week's victories. Right behind her is Lindsey Hatch with two goals, along with Shealyn Testa and Molly Caffrey, who've each posted three points (one goal, one assist). Seven other Stags have also posted a point. Maddy Sposito has seen all the action in goal, owning a 2.23 GAA and .679 save percentage.
Lehigh is 9-7 all-time against Fairfield, but the Stags have won two in a row. The Mountain Hawks' last win in the series came on Oct. 14, 2009, a 3-2 home victory. Lehigh's last win at Fairfield was Sept. 5, 2007 by a 3-1 final. The sides first met in 1992, an 8-1 Lehigh victory.
Meanwhile, Towson will enter Sunday 0-4 after most recently dropping a 4-3 final at Penn last Sunday. The Tigers also fell to Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac by 3-1 finals while falling to the University of Virginia, 14-0.
Lehigh is 10-0 all-time against Towson, but the sides haven't met since 1989. The first meeting came in 1980 (a 2-0 Lehigh win) and the sides played every year through the 80s. Courtney Branco leads the team with three goals and six points, scoring 60 percent of the team's goals. Heather Jenney and Kasie Nurko have scored the others. Tashani Dickson has started all four games, owning a 6.00 GAA and .579 save percentage.
Following the weekend, the Mountain Hawks will remain home to host #8 nationally ranked Penn State next Friday (Sept. 14) at 6 p.m.
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