Lehigh University Athletics
Friday, August 24
Bethlehem, Pa.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Lock Haven
Lehigh to host Lock Haven, Sacred Heart in season opening weekend
8/23/2018 5:20:00 PM | Field Hockey
Watch Live on the Patriot League Network (Free) | Live Stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Coming off a season of progress in 2017, the Lehigh field hockey team is set to open the 2018 campaign when it hosts Lock Haven on Friday at 7 p.m. and Sacred Heart on Sunday at 4 p.m. Both games are slated for the Patriot League Network. Lehigh will be vying for its third consecutive season opening victory which hasn't happened since it won five in a row from 1996-2000.
Last season, the Mountain Hawks were extremely competitive against several quality opponents, especially stepping up on the defensive end of the field. Lehigh tallied three 1-0 shutouts, finding a way to buckle down late in games. Among those blank sheets was a 1-0 overtime defeat of Lafayette, Lehigh's first win against its archrivals since 2005. Junior goalkeeper Paige Innarella stepped up down the stretch with two of her shutouts coming in the last seven games – both against Patriot League opponents. Sophomore defender Lenke Havas returns in 2018 after earning second team All-League as a freshman. Expected alongside Havas this season is veteran Isabel McKeown, one of three seniors on the 2018 Mountain Hawks.
A traditionally strong program, Lock Haven finished last season 10-8, including 3-5 in the Atlantic 10. This year, the Bald Eagles were picked fifth in the A-10 preseason poll as Tamia Roach was named to the preseason All-Conference team. Last season, the midfielder tallied eight goals and five assists for 21 points, with four of her goals being game-winners. Roach was second on Lock Haven in points, trailing current senior Alyscia Smith who had 23 (10 goals, three assists). Goalkeeper Paige Stuppy graduated after posting a stellar 1.32 goals against average and 0.737 save percentage in 2017.
Meanwhile, Sacred Heart is coming off a 7-12 campaign which concluded with a 2-0 win over Fairfield. The Pioneers were picked fifth in the preseason MAAC poll while Bridget LaRiccia was named to the preseason All-Conference team following a rookie campaign which saw her score four goals. Kelsey Hopkins is Sacred Heart's leading scorer following four goals and an assist in 2017. Hailey Power, who started 13 of the team's 19 games in goal, returns after tallying a 2.20 GAA and 0.748 save percentage last year.
Lehigh is 1-8 all-time vs. Lock Haven, falling last season 3-1. The Mountain Hawks' lone win came in 2013 by a 2-1 final at home. Lehigh is 3-7 all-time against Sacred Heart, dropping a hard-fought 1-0 final last year. That snapped a two-game winning streak for the Mountain Hawks, with wins of 4-2 in 2014 and 3-1 in 2015.
Following this weekend, the Mountain Hawks hit the road for five straight away from home, beginning at Villanova on Sunday, Sept. 2. Gametime is set for 12 p.m.
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Coming off a season of progress in 2017, the Lehigh field hockey team is set to open the 2018 campaign when it hosts Lock Haven on Friday at 7 p.m. and Sacred Heart on Sunday at 4 p.m. Both games are slated for the Patriot League Network. Lehigh will be vying for its third consecutive season opening victory which hasn't happened since it won five in a row from 1996-2000.
Last season, the Mountain Hawks were extremely competitive against several quality opponents, especially stepping up on the defensive end of the field. Lehigh tallied three 1-0 shutouts, finding a way to buckle down late in games. Among those blank sheets was a 1-0 overtime defeat of Lafayette, Lehigh's first win against its archrivals since 2005. Junior goalkeeper Paige Innarella stepped up down the stretch with two of her shutouts coming in the last seven games – both against Patriot League opponents. Sophomore defender Lenke Havas returns in 2018 after earning second team All-League as a freshman. Expected alongside Havas this season is veteran Isabel McKeown, one of three seniors on the 2018 Mountain Hawks.
A traditionally strong program, Lock Haven finished last season 10-8, including 3-5 in the Atlantic 10. This year, the Bald Eagles were picked fifth in the A-10 preseason poll as Tamia Roach was named to the preseason All-Conference team. Last season, the midfielder tallied eight goals and five assists for 21 points, with four of her goals being game-winners. Roach was second on Lock Haven in points, trailing current senior Alyscia Smith who had 23 (10 goals, three assists). Goalkeeper Paige Stuppy graduated after posting a stellar 1.32 goals against average and 0.737 save percentage in 2017.
Meanwhile, Sacred Heart is coming off a 7-12 campaign which concluded with a 2-0 win over Fairfield. The Pioneers were picked fifth in the preseason MAAC poll while Bridget LaRiccia was named to the preseason All-Conference team following a rookie campaign which saw her score four goals. Kelsey Hopkins is Sacred Heart's leading scorer following four goals and an assist in 2017. Hailey Power, who started 13 of the team's 19 games in goal, returns after tallying a 2.20 GAA and 0.748 save percentage last year.
Lehigh is 1-8 all-time vs. Lock Haven, falling last season 3-1. The Mountain Hawks' lone win came in 2013 by a 2-1 final at home. Lehigh is 3-7 all-time against Sacred Heart, dropping a hard-fought 1-0 final last year. That snapped a two-game winning streak for the Mountain Hawks, with wins of 4-2 in 2014 and 3-1 in 2015.
Following this weekend, the Mountain Hawks hit the road for five straight away from home, beginning at Villanova on Sunday, Sept. 2. Gametime is set for 12 p.m.
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Players Mentioned
Playing for something bigger than the game
Thursday, October 23
MHT EP3 - Field Hockey
Thursday, October 16
Field Hockey vs. Boston U.
Saturday, October 04
Field Hockey vs. LIU
Sunday, September 28
