Off to its best start since the 2013-14 season, Lehigh will welcome crosstown rival Lafayette on Friday inside Jacobs Pool

Friday, November 22

Bethlehem, Pa.

6:00 p.m.

Lehigh University

Lafayette

Off to its best start since the 2013-14 season, Lehigh will welcome crosstown rival Lafayette on Friday inside Jacobs Pool

11/21/2019 9:36:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving

Lehigh-Lafayette (The Rivalry)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Off to its best start since the 2013-14 season, the Lehigh women's swimming and diving team will return to action on Friday inside Jacobs Pool. The Mountain Hawks will welcome in their crosstown rival Lafayette at 6:00 p.m. Prior to the start, the Brown and White will have a senior ceremony featuring the seven Lehigh seniors.

Last time out, the Mountain Hawks improved to 5-0 on the season after dominating the Loyola Greyhounds at home, 185-113. In the meet, Lehigh won 11-of-16 events, including a pair of first-place finishes from Payton Miles, Megan Fennell, Danielle Prekop and Sarah Hardy.

Lehigh has had roughly a full month to prepare for this race. With all of the anticipation regarding The Rivalry, the scorching start from the women and the senior ceremony prior to the beginning of the meet, the Mountain Hawks know what's at stake and continue to work on their skills in practice.

"We're feeling really good," head coach Rob Hern said. "Our women are training really hard! In the last couple weeks of practices, we've focused on our race speed, making sure that we really pop when we need to pop. This phase has definitely been a little more intense than the first phase."

Going into Friday's meet, the Mountain Hawks have been victorious in in their last 11 meetings with the Leopards. Last year, Lehigh throttled Lafayette in Easton, 224-68.

"We're not looking ahead, trust me. The Rutgers Invite in two weeks is a big one for our women. That invite will be very key for positions in the Patriot League Championships and hopefully will give us good seedings for that. Make no mistake though, it's Lehigh-Lafayette, we want to win for our seniors and we'll be ready to go."

Throughout its early part of the season, Lehigh has won in multiple ways, proving they been through it all. They've blown teams out, while also battling toe-to-toe with teams to garner victories. Having strong captains in Miles, Tori Connolly and Ann Foley, along with rising underclassmen Anna Thomas, Anna Francisco, Evie Gieseman, Samantha Gallego and Fennell, the Brown and White knew they could be special. Sprinkle on impactful freshmen Prekop, Hardy, Sophia Poeta, Hannah Lord and Ashley Carper, the Mountain Hawks are more confident than ever.

"Friday's race against Lafayette is so important for us," added Herb. "There's extra motivation and I hope our fans, students, alumni and staff come out to support our exciting program as we look to defeat our rival for the 12^th straight time."

"It's like I always tell my team, it doesn't matter how you feel, doesn't matter how you prep, when it's time to race, you get up and race." Herb concluded.

Up next, the Mountain Hawks will compete at the Rutgers Invitational. The four-day event will start on Wednesday, December 4.