Friday, October 22
Bethlehem, Pa.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Lafayette
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Friday Night Lights on Tap for Lehigh, Lafayette on Senior Night
10/20/2021 3:42:00 PM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In the middle of a historic season, its best since 1994, the Lehigh field hockey team closes out its regular-season home slate on Friday when the Mountain Hawks host Lafayette in The Rivalry presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network and Coordinated Health. Gametime is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ and before the contest, Lehigh will recognize its transformative senior class that has certainly made its mark in the Brown and White.
Before Friday's game, the Mountain Hawks will honor seniors Leah Mullery, Sam Nason and Olivia Perrone, and fifth-years Lenke Havas and Drew Pecora on the field, while also recognizing former player and current team manager Sujin Kang.
Friday will feature a student giveaway, with a rally towel to the first 100 Lehigh students in attendance.
Lehigh is coming off a weekend of highs and lows, but it certainly ended on a high note. After a 6-1 defeat at Bucknell Saturday (in a game that was much more competitive than the final score indicated), the Mountain Hawks rebounded with a 3-0 home shutout over defending NEC Champion Rider. The Broncs entered the matchup 9-4, having not lost by more than two goals – until Sunday. It was also Lehigh's largest margin of victory vs. Rider since 1998 (19 meetings ago). After a scoreless first quarter, Pecora scored in the second, junior Sarah Bonthuis in the third and Havas in the fourth. The Mountain Hawks actually scored on each of their second-half shots.
Perhaps most impressively, Lehigh improved to 5-0 after losses this season and 7-1 at home.
Entering Friday's matchup, the Mountain Hawks are 10-5 overall – their most wins since 1994 – and guaranteed a winning overall record for the first time since that same season. Lehigh is officially into the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2011 and first time since the league expanded to seven teams with the addition of Boston University in 2013. This year's field is set, with Lafayette also qualifying, along with American and Bucknell.
The Leopards are in the midst of a strong season, owning an 11-3 overall record and 3-1 Patriot League mark. Last weekend, Lafayette lost at home to No. 4 Penn State Friday (3-1) before bouncing back with a 7-0 Senior Day win vs. Drexel Sunday. Friday will feature the top two offenses in the Patriot League, with the Leopards at No. 1 (2.93 goals/game) and the Mountain Hawks at No. 2 (2.80). Audrey Sawers leads Lafayette and the league in points (27 behind nine goals and nine assists). She's also the league leader in shots (62) and shots on goal (34). Felicitas Hannes (seven goals, two assists) and Molly McAndrew (six goals, four assists) are second in points with 16 apiece. Hailey Abbott has started every game in goal, tallying a 1.01 GAA and 76.7 save percentage.
Lafayette leads the all-time series, 41-14-3, but the Mountain Hawks won the most recent meeting last spring, 1-0. In her first-collegiate game, Julia Gatelein scored the game's only goal in the second half. Lehigh is 2-2 in its last four against the Leopards after going winless over its previous 13 in the all-time series.
Following Friday's game, the Mountain Hawks will close the regular season at Wagner on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 12 p.m.
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Before Friday's game, the Mountain Hawks will honor seniors Leah Mullery, Sam Nason and Olivia Perrone, and fifth-years Lenke Havas and Drew Pecora on the field, while also recognizing former player and current team manager Sujin Kang.
Friday will feature a student giveaway, with a rally towel to the first 100 Lehigh students in attendance.
Lehigh is coming off a weekend of highs and lows, but it certainly ended on a high note. After a 6-1 defeat at Bucknell Saturday (in a game that was much more competitive than the final score indicated), the Mountain Hawks rebounded with a 3-0 home shutout over defending NEC Champion Rider. The Broncs entered the matchup 9-4, having not lost by more than two goals – until Sunday. It was also Lehigh's largest margin of victory vs. Rider since 1998 (19 meetings ago). After a scoreless first quarter, Pecora scored in the second, junior Sarah Bonthuis in the third and Havas in the fourth. The Mountain Hawks actually scored on each of their second-half shots.
Perhaps most impressively, Lehigh improved to 5-0 after losses this season and 7-1 at home.
Entering Friday's matchup, the Mountain Hawks are 10-5 overall – their most wins since 1994 – and guaranteed a winning overall record for the first time since that same season. Lehigh is officially into the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2011 and first time since the league expanded to seven teams with the addition of Boston University in 2013. This year's field is set, with Lafayette also qualifying, along with American and Bucknell.
The Leopards are in the midst of a strong season, owning an 11-3 overall record and 3-1 Patriot League mark. Last weekend, Lafayette lost at home to No. 4 Penn State Friday (3-1) before bouncing back with a 7-0 Senior Day win vs. Drexel Sunday. Friday will feature the top two offenses in the Patriot League, with the Leopards at No. 1 (2.93 goals/game) and the Mountain Hawks at No. 2 (2.80). Audrey Sawers leads Lafayette and the league in points (27 behind nine goals and nine assists). She's also the league leader in shots (62) and shots on goal (34). Felicitas Hannes (seven goals, two assists) and Molly McAndrew (six goals, four assists) are second in points with 16 apiece. Hailey Abbott has started every game in goal, tallying a 1.01 GAA and 76.7 save percentage.
Lafayette leads the all-time series, 41-14-3, but the Mountain Hawks won the most recent meeting last spring, 1-0. In her first-collegiate game, Julia Gatelein scored the game's only goal in the second half. Lehigh is 2-2 in its last four against the Leopards after going winless over its previous 13 in the all-time series.
Following Friday's game, the Mountain Hawks will close the regular season at Wagner on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 12 p.m.
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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