Lehigh University Athletics
Tuesday, November 12
Bethlehem, Pa.
6 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Bucknell (Semifinals)
Photo by: Jeremy Clausen
Lehigh set to host Bucknell in Patriot League Semifinal matchup Tuesday night
11/11/2019 6:48:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — For the third year in a row, Lehigh men's soccer is playing in the Patriot League Tournament and for the second straight year, the Mountain Hawks are in the semifinal round as one of the top two teams in the league at the end of the regular season. Having claimed a share of the 2019 Patriot League Regular Season title and the No. 1 overall seed, Lehigh takes on Bucknell Tuesday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex in a semifinal matchup with a berth to the Championship Game on the line on Saturday.
Lehigh finished its regular season at 11-4-3 and an unbeaten 6-0-3 in the Patriot League following a 1-1 draw against Bucknell on Senior Night last Wednesday. Tuesday's matchup will be a rematch between the two teams after the Bison defeated Navy on Saturday in the quarterfinals, 2-0.
The Mountain Hawks wrapped up the regular season with three major award winners and six All-League selections when the Patriot League announced its postseason honors last Friday.
Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Josh Luchini has had a remarkable sophomore season for the Mountain Hawks, leading the Mountain Hawks in goals (11) and points (24) while adding two assists. Luchini is joined on offense by Second Team All-Patriot League Trevor Koski, who is second on the team in goals with four, also adding four assists. Midfielder Stevo Bednarsky was another offensive player that was crucial in Lehigh's attack this season, adding five points on two goals and an assist.
Lehigh's defense was instrumental in the team shutting out eight opponents throughout the course of the season. The backfield is led by First Team All-Patriot League selection Zarin Tuten and Third Team All-League selection Nick Jennings, but are joined by a bunch of other key contributors like Tyler Dressman, Justin Scharf and Andrew White that have made steady contributions on the field, keeping teams out of the net at a consistent rate.
Those eight shutouts were credited to Lehigh's man in net, Goalkeeper of the Year Will Smith, whose .840 save percentage led the Patriot League for the second consecutive year and also held opponents to a 0.73 goals against average. During Patriot League action this year, Smith led the league in both GAA (0.61) and save percentage (.854) as well as saves (35). Smith was named Goalkeeper of the Week three times this season and finishes his career with 10 nods, by far the most in Patriot League history.
Lehigh comes into Tuesday night's game averaging 1.28 goals per game on 12.4 shots per game with a shots on goal percentage of .397. Of its 23 total goals scored this season, 15 have come in the second half alone including one overtime goal, scored by Luchini against Holy Cross to clinch a semifinal berth.
Bucknell took down Navy on Saturday to advance to its first Patriot League semifinal round in 2016 when the Bison fell to American, 2-1. Matt Thorsheim scored both of Bucknell's goals in Annapolis improving the team's overall record to 6-6-7. Thorsheim leads the Bison with 19 points on seven goals and five assists this season, while Patrick O'Hara has scored 12 points on five goals and two assists on 24 shots. Bernie Wright has four assists and one goal, which he scored last week against the Mountain Hawks.
Luke Smith is the Bison's starting goalkeeper, the brother of Will, who leads the team with a 4-2-6 record and 32 saves with a goals against average of 0.59 with a save percentage of .800 in 12 starts this season.
The Mountain Hawks are 9-10-7 all-time in the Patriot League Tournament and have not made an appearance in the Championship Game since the 2015 season, when they won it all. The last time Lehigh faced Bucknell in the tournament was in the quarterfinal round of that title run, the Mountain Hawks getting the victory, 2-0. Lehigh is 3-1-2 all-time in the Patriot League Tournament against Bucknell.
Tuesday night's game will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network with coverage beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens (65+), children (2-18) and students. You can purchase tickets here or at the box office prior to the start of the match.
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Lehigh finished its regular season at 11-4-3 and an unbeaten 6-0-3 in the Patriot League following a 1-1 draw against Bucknell on Senior Night last Wednesday. Tuesday's matchup will be a rematch between the two teams after the Bison defeated Navy on Saturday in the quarterfinals, 2-0.
The Mountain Hawks wrapped up the regular season with three major award winners and six All-League selections when the Patriot League announced its postseason honors last Friday.
Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Josh Luchini has had a remarkable sophomore season for the Mountain Hawks, leading the Mountain Hawks in goals (11) and points (24) while adding two assists. Luchini is joined on offense by Second Team All-Patriot League Trevor Koski, who is second on the team in goals with four, also adding four assists. Midfielder Stevo Bednarsky was another offensive player that was crucial in Lehigh's attack this season, adding five points on two goals and an assist.
Lehigh's defense was instrumental in the team shutting out eight opponents throughout the course of the season. The backfield is led by First Team All-Patriot League selection Zarin Tuten and Third Team All-League selection Nick Jennings, but are joined by a bunch of other key contributors like Tyler Dressman, Justin Scharf and Andrew White that have made steady contributions on the field, keeping teams out of the net at a consistent rate.
Those eight shutouts were credited to Lehigh's man in net, Goalkeeper of the Year Will Smith, whose .840 save percentage led the Patriot League for the second consecutive year and also held opponents to a 0.73 goals against average. During Patriot League action this year, Smith led the league in both GAA (0.61) and save percentage (.854) as well as saves (35). Smith was named Goalkeeper of the Week three times this season and finishes his career with 10 nods, by far the most in Patriot League history.
Lehigh comes into Tuesday night's game averaging 1.28 goals per game on 12.4 shots per game with a shots on goal percentage of .397. Of its 23 total goals scored this season, 15 have come in the second half alone including one overtime goal, scored by Luchini against Holy Cross to clinch a semifinal berth.
Bucknell took down Navy on Saturday to advance to its first Patriot League semifinal round in 2016 when the Bison fell to American, 2-1. Matt Thorsheim scored both of Bucknell's goals in Annapolis improving the team's overall record to 6-6-7. Thorsheim leads the Bison with 19 points on seven goals and five assists this season, while Patrick O'Hara has scored 12 points on five goals and two assists on 24 shots. Bernie Wright has four assists and one goal, which he scored last week against the Mountain Hawks.
Luke Smith is the Bison's starting goalkeeper, the brother of Will, who leads the team with a 4-2-6 record and 32 saves with a goals against average of 0.59 with a save percentage of .800 in 12 starts this season.
The Mountain Hawks are 9-10-7 all-time in the Patriot League Tournament and have not made an appearance in the Championship Game since the 2015 season, when they won it all. The last time Lehigh faced Bucknell in the tournament was in the quarterfinal round of that title run, the Mountain Hawks getting the victory, 2-0. Lehigh is 3-1-2 all-time in the Patriot League Tournament against Bucknell.
Tuesday night's game will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network with coverage beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens (65+), children (2-18) and students. You can purchase tickets here or at the box office prior to the start of the match.
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
One goal. 🏆 #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/Hfug4j2wyr
— z-Lehigh Men's Soccer (@LehighMSoccer) November 11, 2019
Players Mentioned
M/D
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
D/M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
D
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