Thursday, November 4
Washington, D.C.
11 a.m.
Lehigh University
(11-7, 4-2PL)
0
at
1
American (Semifinals)
(12-3, 6-0PL)
1
2
3
4
F
Lehigh
0
0
0
0
0
American
0
1
0
0
1
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Valiant Effort Falls a Little Short at No. 17 American in the Patriot League Semis, 1-0
11/4/2021 6:46:00 PM | Field Hockey
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Lehigh field hockey team played one of its strongest games of the season on Thursday in the Patriot League Semifinals at No. 17 American, but the Eagles scored the game's only goal late in the first half, which stood as the difference as the Mountain Hawks' magical season came to an end with a 1-0 defeat. With the loss, Lehigh finishes the program's best season since 1994 with an 11-7 record. Playing in their first Patriot League Tournament since 2011, the Mountain Hawks' one-goal margin marked their tightest postseason game since 1996.
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"We played great," said Lehigh head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer. "We played a really great game. I certainly think we left it all out on the field. We needed to score goals to win and we weren't able to do that."
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Defensively, the Mountain Hawks stood tall, allowing just one goal, which was the fewest Lehigh field hockey has ever allowed at American and tied for the fewest ever allowed to the Eagles in program history (also allowing one at home in 2015).
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Offensively, Lehigh had its fair share of chances, as final shots were tied 7-7 and the Mountain Hawks held a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners.
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"American is a great team," said Dallmeyer. "That's why they're number 17 in the country. They've just been climbing week after week in the rankings and they've been performing really, really well across all their lines, so we knew it would be challenging to score. We generated more scoring opportunities and momentum. I think we held the ball in their attacking third longer than they held it in ours, so we certainly had plenty of opportunities, but just weren't able to convert."
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The first quarter saw no official shots, although each side generated some offensive pressure. Graduate student Lenke Havas fired the game's first shot on goal at the 22:00 mark, coming directly off a penalty corner, but American goalkeeper Brynn Underwood made the save. Underwood made another stop at 25:09, this one coming off the stick of junior Sydney White. But just over two minutes later, the Eagles broke through, as Noor Coenen made a move into the circle and fired a well-placed shot inside the right post to make it 1-0 at 27:16.
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American began the third quarter with four shots in the span of 2:03 between the 32nd and 34th minutes, three of which were saved by Lehigh junior goalkeeper Maddie Kahn. But from that point forward, the Mountain Hawks began to turn the momentum towards their half of the field. Included were numerous impressive scoring chances, including three corners in less than two minutes and a pair of Havas shots (one on goal). There were also several dangerous plays in the circle that just missed connecting.
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Just over a minute into the fourth quarter, sophomore Abbie Brown fired a hard backhand shot that forced Underwood to make a strong save, then senior Leah Mullery's follow-up attempt in front was denied as well. Kahn later stopped a Coenen chance in the 51st minute to keep the Mountain Hawks within one, and it nearly paid off. Following several offensive rushes, junior Sarah Bonthuis' rebound opportunity sailed high in the 57th minute, proving to be Lehigh's final shot of the contest.
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Kahn finished with four saves for the Mountain Hawks across Underwood, who made five.
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The 2021 season will go down as Lehigh field hockey's strongest in nearly 30 years and one of the best in program history. The Mountain Hawks secured the program's first winning regular season and overall mark since 1994, while the four Patriot League victories were most since 1996 and most since the league expanded to seven teams with the addition of Boston University.
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"It's been a long building process," said Dallmeyer. "There have been so many different bumps along this journey that to be here was validating, and then to be able to run with the top team in the league was certainly rewarding. We know we can compete now and we have further adjustments to make down the line to be able to win these games.
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"Overall, I'm happy, pleased and proud. It was really great that we were able to get here with this group."
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Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
ÂGallery: (11-4-2021) Field Hockey at American, PL Semifinals
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"We played great," said Lehigh head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer. "We played a really great game. I certainly think we left it all out on the field. We needed to score goals to win and we weren't able to do that."
Â
Defensively, the Mountain Hawks stood tall, allowing just one goal, which was the fewest Lehigh field hockey has ever allowed at American and tied for the fewest ever allowed to the Eagles in program history (also allowing one at home in 2015).
Â
Offensively, Lehigh had its fair share of chances, as final shots were tied 7-7 and the Mountain Hawks held a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners.
Â
"American is a great team," said Dallmeyer. "That's why they're number 17 in the country. They've just been climbing week after week in the rankings and they've been performing really, really well across all their lines, so we knew it would be challenging to score. We generated more scoring opportunities and momentum. I think we held the ball in their attacking third longer than they held it in ours, so we certainly had plenty of opportunities, but just weren't able to convert."
Â
The first quarter saw no official shots, although each side generated some offensive pressure. Graduate student Lenke Havas fired the game's first shot on goal at the 22:00 mark, coming directly off a penalty corner, but American goalkeeper Brynn Underwood made the save. Underwood made another stop at 25:09, this one coming off the stick of junior Sydney White. But just over two minutes later, the Eagles broke through, as Noor Coenen made a move into the circle and fired a well-placed shot inside the right post to make it 1-0 at 27:16.
Â
American began the third quarter with four shots in the span of 2:03 between the 32nd and 34th minutes, three of which were saved by Lehigh junior goalkeeper Maddie Kahn. But from that point forward, the Mountain Hawks began to turn the momentum towards their half of the field. Included were numerous impressive scoring chances, including three corners in less than two minutes and a pair of Havas shots (one on goal). There were also several dangerous plays in the circle that just missed connecting.
Â
Just over a minute into the fourth quarter, sophomore Abbie Brown fired a hard backhand shot that forced Underwood to make a strong save, then senior Leah Mullery's follow-up attempt in front was denied as well. Kahn later stopped a Coenen chance in the 51st minute to keep the Mountain Hawks within one, and it nearly paid off. Following several offensive rushes, junior Sarah Bonthuis' rebound opportunity sailed high in the 57th minute, proving to be Lehigh's final shot of the contest.
The Mountain Hawks were relentless all day today. Here's one of Lehigh's best chances, beginning with an Abbie Brown shot. pic.twitter.com/VKAYTXWTlX
— Lehigh Field Hockey (@LehighFH) November 4, 2021
"I think we had a lot of confidence going into the game," said Dallmeyer. "We prepared well and had a great week of practice. I don't think anyone felt complete. We wanted more, we worked for more. The focused energy we were able to put out and the desire we had to win that game really kept us in it."How close were the Mountain Hawks from tying today's game late? See for yourself. pic.twitter.com/ITALOWNSTJ
— Lehigh Field Hockey (@LehighFH) November 4, 2021
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Kahn finished with four saves for the Mountain Hawks across Underwood, who made five.
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The 2021 season will go down as Lehigh field hockey's strongest in nearly 30 years and one of the best in program history. The Mountain Hawks secured the program's first winning regular season and overall mark since 1994, while the four Patriot League victories were most since 1996 and most since the league expanded to seven teams with the addition of Boston University.
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"It's been a long building process," said Dallmeyer. "There have been so many different bumps along this journey that to be here was validating, and then to be able to run with the top team in the league was certainly rewarding. We know we can compete now and we have further adjustments to make down the line to be able to win these games.
Â
"Overall, I'm happy, pleased and proud. It was really great that we were able to get here with this group."
Â
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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ÂHead coach Caitlin Dallmeyer following today's hard-fought 1-0 defeat at No. 17 American in the @PatriotLeague Semifinals. pic.twitter.com/JnSnHUEwgN
— Lehigh Field Hockey (@LehighFH) November 4, 2021
Team Stats
LEHIGH
AMERICAN
Goals
0
1
Shots
7
7
Shots on Goal
5
5
Saves
4
5
Corners
7
4
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Coenen, Noor
Ran it in, weaved through defenders
27:16
Game Leaders
Players
d/m
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Field HockeyM
/ Field HockeyD/M
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field HockeyM/F
/ Field HockeyD
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