Tuesday, October 15
Princeton, N.J.
7:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Princeton
Smith, Jennings earn weekly awards as Mountain Hawks visit Princeton Tuesday
10/14/2019 1:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — After Lehigh men's soccer team earned a 1-0 shutout victory over Loyola Maryland on Saturday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex and played a strong matchup with No. 12 Georgetown last Tuesday, both senior goalkeeper Will Smith and sophomore defender Nick Jennings earned weekly awards, announced by the Patriot League on Monday afternoon.
Smith was important in the Mountain Hawks' defensive presence through both contests last week, facing 27 Hoya shots in Washington, D.C. and making a career-high 10 saves in the team's defeat. Against Loyola, Smith made seven saves and faced 25 shots including seven on goal and earned his fifth shutout of the season and the 20th of his career. He is now in sole possession of second all-time in program history and tied for sixth in league history.
The award is Smith's first of the 2019 season and becomes the Patriot League record-holder for goalkeeper weekly awards with eight all-time.
It was instrumental for Jennings to come back from his month-long absence due to injury stronger than he was before and he delivered for Lehigh against the Greyhounds. Jennings netted the penalty kick goal in the 41st minute that proved to be the game-winner, the first of his career and the first goal he scored of the 2019 season. Jennings also helped with the defensive effort, shutting out Loyola after the team led the way in shots throughout the night. The award is Jennings' first of his young career.
"I am very happy for Will and Nick to be acknowledged for the performances this past week," said head coach Dean Koski. "The player of the week recognition is well deserved for both of them. I know that they are both committed to do anything necessary to achieve team success."
The Mountain Hawks continue their schedule on Tuesday evening when they visit Princeton at 7:30 p.m. Lehigh has fared well against its other Ivy League opponent this year in Penn with a 2-1 win back on Sept. 24.
Lehigh got its scoring monkey off its back on Saturday night with Jennings' game-winning PK to beat Loyola. The goal was the Mountain Hawks' first since Oct. 2 at Colgate.
Josh Luchini enters the game on Tuesday still at a league-leading nine goals for the year and hasn't scored since playing Colgate. Both Trevor Koski and Alex Greene are tied for the team lead in assists, while Luchini leads the way with shots taken (28), shots on goal (18) and game-winning goals (3). Smith is pacing the team with a goals allowed average of 0.90 and a save percentage of .800 to go along with his five shutout victories. The Mountain Hawks are averaging 1.42 goals per game, 12.2 shots per game and have a shot percentage of .116 and a SOG% of .425.
Against Princeton, Lehigh will go for its ninth win of the campaign, which would match 2018's season total with just five games remaining in the 2019 regular season. It would be the most wins since Lehigh won 11 games back in 2017.
Princeton comes into the matchup with a 6-3-1 overall record, 0-1-1 in the Ivy League and are coming off a 1-1 draw at Brown on Saturday. The Tigers' last two wins was a 3-0 victory against Delaware on Oct. 8 and a 6-3 victory at Saint Joseph's on Oct. 1. Walker Gillespie leads the team with 11 points on five goals and an assist, while Spencer Fleurant has scored three times and five other players have two goals each. Between the pipes, Princeton has used four different goalkeepers this season, but Jacob Schachner has led the way with eight starts and a goals allowed average of 1.61 with 23 saves and a percentage of .639. The Tigers average 2.10 goals per game and 13.3 shots per game with a SOG% of .398.
Lehigh is 8-31-1 all-time against Princeton with the Tigers winning the last matchup, 2-0 back on Nov. 1, 2011. The last time the Mountain Hawks were victorious was at the Ulrich Sports Complex on Sept. 7, 2010 in a 3-2 decision.
Tuesday night's game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required), with game time set for 7:30 p.m.
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Smith was important in the Mountain Hawks' defensive presence through both contests last week, facing 27 Hoya shots in Washington, D.C. and making a career-high 10 saves in the team's defeat. Against Loyola, Smith made seven saves and faced 25 shots including seven on goal and earned his fifth shutout of the season and the 20th of his career. He is now in sole possession of second all-time in program history and tied for sixth in league history.
The award is Smith's first of the 2019 season and becomes the Patriot League record-holder for goalkeeper weekly awards with eight all-time.
It was instrumental for Jennings to come back from his month-long absence due to injury stronger than he was before and he delivered for Lehigh against the Greyhounds. Jennings netted the penalty kick goal in the 41st minute that proved to be the game-winner, the first of his career and the first goal he scored of the 2019 season. Jennings also helped with the defensive effort, shutting out Loyola after the team led the way in shots throughout the night. The award is Jennings' first of his young career.
"I am very happy for Will and Nick to be acknowledged for the performances this past week," said head coach Dean Koski. "The player of the week recognition is well deserved for both of them. I know that they are both committed to do anything necessary to achieve team success."
The Mountain Hawks continue their schedule on Tuesday evening when they visit Princeton at 7:30 p.m. Lehigh has fared well against its other Ivy League opponent this year in Penn with a 2-1 win back on Sept. 24.
Lehigh got its scoring monkey off its back on Saturday night with Jennings' game-winning PK to beat Loyola. The goal was the Mountain Hawks' first since Oct. 2 at Colgate.
Josh Luchini enters the game on Tuesday still at a league-leading nine goals for the year and hasn't scored since playing Colgate. Both Trevor Koski and Alex Greene are tied for the team lead in assists, while Luchini leads the way with shots taken (28), shots on goal (18) and game-winning goals (3). Smith is pacing the team with a goals allowed average of 0.90 and a save percentage of .800 to go along with his five shutout victories. The Mountain Hawks are averaging 1.42 goals per game, 12.2 shots per game and have a shot percentage of .116 and a SOG% of .425.
Against Princeton, Lehigh will go for its ninth win of the campaign, which would match 2018's season total with just five games remaining in the 2019 regular season. It would be the most wins since Lehigh won 11 games back in 2017.
Princeton comes into the matchup with a 6-3-1 overall record, 0-1-1 in the Ivy League and are coming off a 1-1 draw at Brown on Saturday. The Tigers' last two wins was a 3-0 victory against Delaware on Oct. 8 and a 6-3 victory at Saint Joseph's on Oct. 1. Walker Gillespie leads the team with 11 points on five goals and an assist, while Spencer Fleurant has scored three times and five other players have two goals each. Between the pipes, Princeton has used four different goalkeepers this season, but Jacob Schachner has led the way with eight starts and a goals allowed average of 1.61 with 23 saves and a percentage of .639. The Tigers average 2.10 goals per game and 13.3 shots per game with a SOG% of .398.
Lehigh is 8-31-1 all-time against Princeton with the Tigers winning the last matchup, 2-0 back on Nov. 1, 2011. The last time the Mountain Hawks were victorious was at the Ulrich Sports Complex on Sept. 7, 2010 in a 3-2 decision.
Tuesday night's game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required), with game time set for 7:30 p.m.
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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