Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks unveil 2018 schedule
12/18/2017 10:57:00 AM | Softball
2018 Lehigh Softball Schedule
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Sixteen games at Leadership Park and a total of seven games against teams that played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament highlight the 2018 Lehigh softball schedule, announced Monday by head coach Fran Troyan. The defending Patriot League champions have lined up another challenging slate including four early-season tournaments and a pair of trips to Florida that will ready the Mountain Hawks for the always challenging Patriot League slate.
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"As we have done in the past we are looking to put together a tough but practical schedule," Troyan said. There are no easy games. We are hoping that the stiff early-season competition will help us prepare for a competitive Patriot League season."
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For the fourth time in five seasons, Lehigh will open its season at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla. Three of Lehigh's first five games Feb. 23-25 will be against Power 5 conference opponents, including the opener against Louisville and games against NCAA qualifiers Minnesota and South Carolina. The Mountain Hawks will also face Savannah State and Miami (Ohio) on their opening weekend.
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"In this particular tournament coaches are allowed to request opponents," Troyan explained. "We asked to play a tough but balanced schedule. It looks like a number of schools requested us. The great thing about playing power five schools is that you are able to sort out exactly what you need to work on very early as these types of teams expose any weaknesses."
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Lehigh will open March in Durham, N.C. at a tournament hosted by Duke's first-year program. The Mountain Hawks will battle defending MAC champion Kent State on March 2, then will face Yale and the host Duke Blue Devils on March 3, before rounding out the tournament against defending Summit League champions North Dakota State on March 4.
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After trekking to northern California last year for spring break, Lehigh will return to Florida for spring break 2018 for 10 games spread over eight days in the Tampa/Clearwater area. First off is the Under Armour Showcase, March 10-11 where Lehigh will square off against Seton Hall, Central Michigan, Loyola (Chicago) and Central Connecticut State. A pair of midweek games will follow against Butler and Quinnipiac on March 14, before Lehigh closes out spring break with its second spring break tournament hosted by USF. The Mountain Hawks will face Elon, LIU Brooklyn and Florida Gulf Coast, in addition to tournament host USF March 16-17.
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"Being in the Tampa area should be fun for the week," Troyan said. "We've got some great games at the front end, a couple of competitive midweek games, and a tough tournament at the backend. We hope this tough schedule prepares us for league play."
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Lehigh's first home stand will also usher in Patriot League play. The Leadership Park home opener is a doubleheader against Delaware on March 21, with a three-game Patriot League-opening series against Colgate March 24-25.
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Following a trip to Penn for a single game on March 27, Lehigh will host this year's rivalry series against Lafayette on March 31 and April 1.
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The rivalry series will be followed by 10 straight games away from home, including Patriot League series at Boston University (April 7-8) and Bucknell (April 14-15). Lehigh will also visit defending Atlantic 10 champion Fordham (April 4) and Saint Joseph's (April 11) for midweek doubleheaders.
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Around Lehigh's off weekend from league play, the Mountain Hawks will host four non-league games at Leadership Park. Former Lehigh standout Lisa (Sweeney) Van Ackeren brings defending Ivy League champion Princeton in on April 18, while the following day the Mountain Hawks will face Seton Hall for a second time. Another Big East team, Villanova, visits for two on April 25.
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Lehigh's final regular season road games will be at Army West Point April 28-29. The Mountain Hawks will then come home to face Rider in a non-league doubleheader on May 2, before closing out the regular season against Holy Cross May 5-6. The Broncs are coached by another former Lehigh player in Davon Ortega.
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The Patriot League Tournament will once again take place on the home field of the top seed, with games slated for May 10-12.
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Lehigh went 36-20 a season ago and won their 14th Patriot League Tournament title. Five of Lehigh's All-Patriot League performers from a season ago return including catcher Carolyn Wright, pitcher Emily Sorem, outfielders Nicole Yozzo and Ashley Rabago and second baseman Mary-Hannah Smith.
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The Mountain Hawks will open the 2018 campaign with five games spread over three days at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic, Feb. 23-25 in Orlando, Fla. Lehigh will open with Louisville, Friday Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. and will face Savannah State at 12:30 p.m.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Sixteen games at Leadership Park and a total of seven games against teams that played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament highlight the 2018 Lehigh softball schedule, announced Monday by head coach Fran Troyan. The defending Patriot League champions have lined up another challenging slate including four early-season tournaments and a pair of trips to Florida that will ready the Mountain Hawks for the always challenging Patriot League slate.
Â
"As we have done in the past we are looking to put together a tough but practical schedule," Troyan said. There are no easy games. We are hoping that the stiff early-season competition will help us prepare for a competitive Patriot League season."
Â
For the fourth time in five seasons, Lehigh will open its season at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla. Three of Lehigh's first five games Feb. 23-25 will be against Power 5 conference opponents, including the opener against Louisville and games against NCAA qualifiers Minnesota and South Carolina. The Mountain Hawks will also face Savannah State and Miami (Ohio) on their opening weekend.
Â
"In this particular tournament coaches are allowed to request opponents," Troyan explained. "We asked to play a tough but balanced schedule. It looks like a number of schools requested us. The great thing about playing power five schools is that you are able to sort out exactly what you need to work on very early as these types of teams expose any weaknesses."
Â
Lehigh will open March in Durham, N.C. at a tournament hosted by Duke's first-year program. The Mountain Hawks will battle defending MAC champion Kent State on March 2, then will face Yale and the host Duke Blue Devils on March 3, before rounding out the tournament against defending Summit League champions North Dakota State on March 4.
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After trekking to northern California last year for spring break, Lehigh will return to Florida for spring break 2018 for 10 games spread over eight days in the Tampa/Clearwater area. First off is the Under Armour Showcase, March 10-11 where Lehigh will square off against Seton Hall, Central Michigan, Loyola (Chicago) and Central Connecticut State. A pair of midweek games will follow against Butler and Quinnipiac on March 14, before Lehigh closes out spring break with its second spring break tournament hosted by USF. The Mountain Hawks will face Elon, LIU Brooklyn and Florida Gulf Coast, in addition to tournament host USF March 16-17.
Â
"Being in the Tampa area should be fun for the week," Troyan said. "We've got some great games at the front end, a couple of competitive midweek games, and a tough tournament at the backend. We hope this tough schedule prepares us for league play."
Â
Lehigh's first home stand will also usher in Patriot League play. The Leadership Park home opener is a doubleheader against Delaware on March 21, with a three-game Patriot League-opening series against Colgate March 24-25.
Â
Following a trip to Penn for a single game on March 27, Lehigh will host this year's rivalry series against Lafayette on March 31 and April 1.
Â
The rivalry series will be followed by 10 straight games away from home, including Patriot League series at Boston University (April 7-8) and Bucknell (April 14-15). Lehigh will also visit defending Atlantic 10 champion Fordham (April 4) and Saint Joseph's (April 11) for midweek doubleheaders.
Â
Around Lehigh's off weekend from league play, the Mountain Hawks will host four non-league games at Leadership Park. Former Lehigh standout Lisa (Sweeney) Van Ackeren brings defending Ivy League champion Princeton in on April 18, while the following day the Mountain Hawks will face Seton Hall for a second time. Another Big East team, Villanova, visits for two on April 25.
Â
Lehigh's final regular season road games will be at Army West Point April 28-29. The Mountain Hawks will then come home to face Rider in a non-league doubleheader on May 2, before closing out the regular season against Holy Cross May 5-6. The Broncs are coached by another former Lehigh player in Davon Ortega.
Â
The Patriot League Tournament will once again take place on the home field of the top seed, with games slated for May 10-12.
Â
Lehigh went 36-20 a season ago and won their 14th Patriot League Tournament title. Five of Lehigh's All-Patriot League performers from a season ago return including catcher Carolyn Wright, pitcher Emily Sorem, outfielders Nicole Yozzo and Ashley Rabago and second baseman Mary-Hannah Smith.
Â
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2018 campaign with five games spread over three days at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic, Feb. 23-25 in Orlando, Fla. Lehigh will open with Louisville, Friday Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. and will face Savannah State at 12:30 p.m.
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