
Mountain Hawks battle back for 1-1 draw at FDU
8/29/2019 11:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer
"I thought as the game progressed, we got better and better," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "We started to knock it around and create some chances. I was happy with the goal. It seemed to energize us and after we scored, we played a lot better."
Lehigh struggled to create offense for much of the game until Kestelboym's goal. After FDU attempted to clear a Lehigh free kick, sophomore Abby Furtman headed the ball to Kestelboym, who found the inside of the far post for the Mountain Hawks' first goal of the season.
Wait for it... wait for it... Lisa Kestelboym netted Lehigh's first goal of the season in the 80th minute at FDU tonight, equaling the score at one. Shoutout to Abby Furtmann for the assist, her first-career point 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/I0V052WylW
— Lehigh W. Soccer (@LehighWSoccer) August 30, 2019
"Coming home, it was great to have Lisa get a goal," said Lambinus. "She's striking the ball well and moving it well for us. She definitely deserved the goal and I think she's going to continue to get better. We have to continue to work on the rotation in there so she's not being forced to do too much, and we can share it a little bit. That's what Abby did well today for us.
"Abby has made great strides," Lambinus continued. "She's really fit; she came into preseason ready to play. She's making good decisions. She was one of our really good players throughout preseason and tonight, it really showed."
FDU scored its goal in the 25th minute as not long after a corner kick, Stasi Torchia gave the Knights a 1-0 lead amidst a group of players in front of the goal.
Junior goalkeeper Miranda Royds was stellar all game, making a strong save to her right in the 28th minute to keep Lehigh's deficit at 1-0. Early in the second half, Royds made another stellar save, deflecting a ball that looked ticketed for the back of the net off the cross bar, allowing her defense to clear it out of harm's way.
The save of the night?! Miranda Royds somehow got a piece of this shot, deflecting it off the crossbar to keep the Mountain Hawks' deficit at 1-0. #PLTop3 pic.twitter.com/54CMdIvaxQ
— Lehigh W. Soccer (@LehighWSoccer) August 30, 2019
After the equalizer, the Mountain Hawks had some dangerous chances late in regulation. Included were two shots on goal from senior Kayla Arestivo, which Fitzgerald stopped. Lehigh kept the momentum going in overtime, with its best chance coming in the 106th minute as Van Siclen's rocket ricocheted off the cross bar and post. She followed up with a shot that was blocked, and Furtman also had a chance, but it sailed high.
This was an INCREDIBLE change for the Mountain Hawks in double OT as Van Siclen's shot just wouldn't go in, and the follow-up attempts were blocked. pic.twitter.com/7xGTe4Blx9
— Lehigh W. Soccer (@LehighWSoccer) August 30, 2019
Final shots were 16-15 in favor of FDU while Lehigh held a 6-5 edge in corner kicks. Royds and Fitzgerald both finished with seven saves.
The Mountain Hawks return to action on Sunday when they travel to Pittsburgh to face Duquesne at 12 p.m.
"The positive is that we've worked ourselves into games," said Lambinus. "We're fit. We have a deep team; we went pretty deep with our roster today. It tells me we have that fight and we have that toughness. But if we can start a game that way and get a lead, we can really play well. We have to play better and have more urgency at the beginning, then I think the game will come easier for us."
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Team Stats

TORCHIA, Stasi (1)
Assisted By: Skansberg, Maja , EGNER, Lea
GOAL by FDU TORCHIA, Stasi (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Skansberg, Maja and EGNER, Lea, goal number 1 for season.
24:12

Kestelboym, Lisa (1)
Assisted By: Furtmann, Abby
GOAL by LEHIGH Kestelboym, Lisa, Assist by Furtmann, Abby, goal number 1 for season.
79:15