Sunday, September 28
Ulrich Sports Complex
1:00 pm
Lehigh University
(4-6)
4
vs
2
Sacred Heart
(5-5)
1
2
F
Sacred Heart
1
1
2
Lehigh
2
2
4
Lehigh beats Sacred Heart 4-2 for third straight win
9/28/2014 3:22:00 PM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh field hockey team carried the momentum from a three-goal second half against Holy Cross Saturday by tallying two goals in each half on Sunday in a convincing 4-2 win over the visiting Sacred Heart Pioneers. Sophomore Gabby Tofig led the offense with two goals as she's scored six goals over the last five games. The Mountain Hawks have won four of those games, and three straight, heading into a Patriot League showdown against Colgate next weekend.
"We're excited. I think the kids are playing great," said Lehigh head coach Stacey Eversley. "They're coming out strong at practice and they're bringing it into every game. They're doing a great job."
Lehigh dominated the first half, holding a 10-1 shot advantage. The Mountain Hawks scored twice, beginning with junior Erin Ricker who tallied her second goal of the season on a direct shot off a penalty corner to open the scoring at the 10:05 mark.
The Pioneers answered less than five minutes later off a corner of their own, but the tie was short-lived as Tofig had an answer just 3:49 later, corralling a rebound off a corner for her first goal of the game at 18:36.
Lehigh continued to pepper Sacred Heart goalie Mary Altepeter with shots, but couldn't add a third goal of the half as the teams went into halftime with the Mountain Hawks leading, 2-1.
Sacred Heart tallied three of the first four second-half shots, but a transition opportunity led to a fastbreak goal by Tofig and a 3-2 advantage. Around mid-field, freshman Jackie Renda fed Tofig with a beautiful pass that sent her all alone on Pioneers' goalie Mary Altepeter. Tofig made a move and finished with a low shot past the Sacred Heart senior to make it 3-1 at 43:28. Sunday marked Tofig's second-career multi-goal game, both coming in the last five games.
Just over three minutes later, sophomore Amanda Granger corralled a rebound and scored her second goal of the season for a 4-1 advantage at 46:38.
"Our offense is starting to shoot more, which is great for us, and a lot of the shots are falling," said Eversley. "I would like even more shots, but I think we're doing a great job of being creative, getting in the circle and getting shots off."
The Pioneers pulled within 4-2 at 63:15 as Sarah Bergman scored a penalty-stroke goal.
A much more even second half saw a 13-9 Sacred Heart edge in shots. Four of them came with the clock reading zero as the Pioneers had three corners with no time remaining. On the second corner, junior Kat Kneizys made two defensive saves, including one where she swatted the ball out of mid-air to save a goal. Sophomore goalie Julia Ward also made two stops in that stretch as Lehigh eventually cleared the ball to end the game as 4-2 winners.
"The entire defense was organized and communicated well today," said Eversley. "Kat's two saves were definitely key for us. It was great."
Final shots were 19-14 in favor of Lehigh while the Pioneers held a 10-9 edge in penalty corners. Ward finished with nine saves, as did Altepeter.
The Mountain Hawks will return to action on Saturday when they host Colgate in a big Patriot League game. Gametime is set for 12 p.m. Lehigh will then head to Fairfield next Sunday to face the Stags.
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
SHU
LEHIGH
Goals
2
4
Shots
14
19
Shots on Goal
13
14
Saves
10
11
Corners
10
9
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Ricker, Erin (2)
Assisted By: Fratoni, Steph
Direct shot off penalty corner beat goal
10:05
Tolli, Nichole (1)
Assisted By: Bergman, Sarah
#10 made feed to her left off corner to
14:47
Tofig, Gabby (6)
Rebound following save off penalty corne
18:36
Tofig, Gabby (7)
Assisted By: Renda, Jackie
#5 made feed to spring #2 in all alone o
43:28
Granger, Amanda (2)
Beat goalie on a rebound attempt.
46:38
Bergman, Sarah (1)
SHU Bergman, Sarah PENALTY STROKE GOAL, goal number 1 for season.
63:15
Game Leaders
Shots
6
SOG
4
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
4
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
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