Lehigh Ends Season with Tough 3-1 Senior Night Loss to American

Saturday, November 5

7 p.m.

Lehigh University

7-10-1, 3-6-0PL

American

10-5-4, 7-1-1PL

Team	1	2	Final F
American	3	0	3
Lehigh	0	1	1

Lehigh Ends Season with Tough 3-1 Senior Night Loss to American

11/5/2016 9:29:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - American scored two early goals and went up 3-0 at the half, which proved too much for the Lehigh men's soccer team to overcome as the Mountain Hawks dropped their season finale, 3-0 on Saturday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex. With the loss, Lehigh is eliminated from Patriot League Tournament contention. The Mountain Hawks end their season 7-10-1 overall, 3-6-0 in league play.

"It is very challenging when you go down 3-0 within the first 45 minutes in arguably our most important game of the season," said heach coach Dean Koski. "I thought the second half we did a better job of managing the deficit, but not to the level that we could win the game. We lost our self-discipline and it's hard to win when you're playing with nine players."

(11/5/2016) Men's Soccer vs. American, 11/5/16

American fired the game's first three shots, but the Eagles converted their fourth attempt for the game's first goal as Max Holdsworth curved a shot into the right side of the goal at the 10:11 mark.

Lehigh had a quality opportunity in the 13th minute as Zarin Tuten's header went wide. Just under two minutes later, American doubled its lead as Dale Ludwig headed a shot into the right side of the goal, in a similar location as the game's first goal.

The Mountain Hawks' first shot on goal came in the 18th minute when junior Doyle Tuvesson's shot was saved by American goalkeeper Lucas Belanger. Late in the half, the Eagles added insurance as Ludwig headed in a shot off a corner kick at the 34:02 mark.

Lehigh came out strong early in the second half, recording the first four shots of the stanza. The Mountain Hawks cut into the American lead at the 53:20 mark when sophomore Mark Forrest served a pass into the middle and junior Jack Miskel fired a shot into the lower right corner of the goal.

However, the Mountain Hawks could only fire one shot the rest of the way, from Forrest in the 79th minute, as the Eagles wrapped up the 3-1 victory.

Final shots were 17-8 in favor of American while the Eagles held a 6-1 edge in corner kicks. Freshman Will Smith made two first-half saves before being replaced by senior Jacob Gottwald, who stopped the only shot sent his way.

With tonight's loss bringing a close to the 2016 season, coach Koski reflects on the season and looks ahead to next year.

"We have some work to do looking ahead to next year. We did not win a championship so in my mind it's a successfull season," said Koski. "Coming off a championship season and not making the postseason is disappointing for all of us."

Coach Koski also took a moment to reflect and express his feelings towards the departing seniors, Danny Gonzalez, Gottwald and Justin Worley, who played their final game with in the Brown and White.

"We are going miss their leadership. We are going to miss their character. It is an outstanding group of guys and they have served this program well," said Koski. "They leave as Patriot League Champions from last year and that is something they can always hold on to. I feel bad for them in the way their careers ended with a game like tonight because they have given so much to this program, but they are all champions and they can walk feeling proud."

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