Second half surge not enough in 2-1 loss to Colgate

Saturday, October 4

Ulrich Sports Complex

12:00 pm

Lehigh University

(4-7, 1-2PL)

Colgate

(4-6, 3-0PL)

Colgate

Lehigh

Second half surge not enough in 2-1 loss to Colgate

10/4/2014 2:17:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh field hockey team outshot Colgate 19-5 in the second half, but couldn't overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit as the Raiders snapped the Mountain Hawks' three-game winning streak, 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Kassidy Green scored her first-career goal in the defeat while classmate Julia Ward made seven saves in goal.

"We adjusted from the first half and definitely had a lot of opportunities," said Lehigh head coach Stacey Eversley. "We got one goal, but it just wasn't enough."

Colgate controlled play early on, recording three shots on goal and two penalty corners before Lehigh's first offensive chance just over three minutes into the game. The Mountain Hawks' first shot came from junior Alex Beatson off a penalty corner in the 17th minute.

The Raiders answered less than 10 minutes later with the game's first goal as Ward got a piece of a shot from the top of the circle, but it dribbled behind her and over the goal line, making it 1-0 at 25:40. Colgate ended the first half with a 9-4 shot advantage.

The Mountain Hawks had tremendous offensive pressure from the onset of the second half as Colgate goalie Amanda DiDomizio was forced to make 10 of her 13 saves over the final 35 minutes. One of Lehigh's chances wasn't even a shot on goal as junior Lindsey Schott was sprung in all alone on goal in the 52nd minute. DiDomizio came out strong, yet Schott still got a hard shot off which hit the right post to keep the game 1-0.

"Some of the moves Lindsey had to get to the circle were incredible," said Eversley. "Her shot is going to fall; it just didn't happen today. I'm proud that she kept shooting."

The Mountain Hawks fired two more shots on goal over the next minute, but just seven minutes later, Colgate staged its first offensive rush since early in the half and it paid off. Emily Brash unleashed a hard shot from the edge of the circle that snuck inside the right post to make it 2-0 at 59:20.

Lehigh continued to pressure and was able to cut the lead in half as Green fired a shot towards goal, which was deflected by a Colgate defender, high past DiDomizio to make it 2-1 at 67:11.

The Mountain Hawks continued to pressure right until the final seconds as Schott had a good look as time expired, but it was blocked.

Final shots were 23-14 in favor of Lehigh while the Mountain Hawks held a 9-7 edge in penalty corners.

"I think they (the players) were disappointed that they didn't come to play in the first half and that was the difference in the game," said Eversley. "I think they know we can hang with the best teams in the league. They're going to come out every single game and try to win."

The Mountain Hawks will return to action in 24 hours as they travel to Fairfield to face the Stags at 2 p.m.

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