Saturday, November 6
Bethlehem, Pa.
6 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Navy (Quarterfinals)
Photo by: Josh Liddick
Mountain Hawks, Midshipmen face off in Patriot League Quarterfinals Saturday
11/5/2021 4:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's soccer team begins its journey for a fourth Patriot League title on Saturday evening, hosting a Patriot League quarterfinal matchup against Navy at 6 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The fourth-seeded Mountain Hawks (5-10-2, 5-4-0 PL) finished the 2021 regular season on a tear, winning four of their final five games including three straight to close the campaign. The last time Lehigh qualified for a Patriot League Tournament was 2019, the last of three previous championships.
The Mountain Hawks are led by three All-Patriot League selections in junior forward Jack Sarkos (first team), senior forward Josh Luchini (second) and fifth-year senior midfielder Stevo Bednarsky (second).
All three players have made a tremendous impact on the roster over this homestretch of matchups, but particularly Sarkos has had consistently good form. The striker has scored eight goals with two assists this season, with six goals scored over his final three games. He has scored the game-winning goal in four of Lehigh's five wins this season, a number that tops the league leaderboard.
Luchini's five goals are second on the team and his five assists leads the way. Bednarsky has two assists, both in his last two outings.
Lehigh has saved its best soccer for the end of the season, out-scoring teams 11-5 over its last four league games, going 4-0-0 in those matchups.
Notably, this is the first time the Mountain Hawks are starting the tournament in the quarterfinal round since 2017 (a 3-0 loss vs. Holy Cross). The last time Lehigh won a quarterfinal round matchup was against Bucknell in 2015 (2-0), the first of three wins in the tournament contributing to the Mountain Hawks' second Patriot League title in program history.
Navy comes into Saturday night's quarterfinal affair looking for answers after dropping three of its last four games including a heartbreaking defeat to American on Wednesday afternoon on the road. The Midshipmen (11-5-1, 5-4-0 PL) haven't had the best form as of late, but still come into the tournament as a dangerous team with a lot of offensive and defensive firepower.
Navy has two Patriot League major award winners in Jacob Williams (Offensive Player of the Year) and Matt Nocita (Defensive Player of the Year), as well as eight All-Patriot League selections (Williams, Nocita, Sidney Paris, Baba Kallie, David Jackson, Tyler Fahning, Tyler Collins and JD Wagner).
Williams is Navy's leader in goals with six, adding four assists, while Paris has added four goals with seven assists to his ledger. Jackson is tied for third with four goals and five assists. The Mids are averaging 1.76 goals per game this season with Tyler Fahning coming into the game with nine shutouts and a 0.91 goals against average.
Lehigh took down Navy earlier this season on Oct. 23 in Annapolis, thanks to the first career hat trick for Sarkos. He scored the three goals in the first, 32nd and 92nd minutes for the overtime victory. Josh Luchini provided two of the Mountain Hawks' five total assists.
The Midshipmen hold a 32-22-7 all-time advantage in the series with Lehigh claiming the previous five matchups dating back to 2016. This will be the Mountain Hawks' first-ever matchup against Navy in the Patriot League Tournament. Lehigh is 11-10-7 all-time in tournament games.
Saturday's fixture will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required) with opening kick set for 6 p.m. The winner will take on either No. 1 Loyola Maryland or No. 2 American on the road Tuesday in the semifinal round.
Tickets for the Patriot League Quarterfinal matchup against Navy on Saturday night at 6 p.m. are on sale now! They can be purchased by visiting lehightickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263. Tickets are priced at $5. Patriot League students receive free admission with their school ID.
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
The Mountain Hawks are led by three All-Patriot League selections in junior forward Jack Sarkos (first team), senior forward Josh Luchini (second) and fifth-year senior midfielder Stevo Bednarsky (second).
All three players have made a tremendous impact on the roster over this homestretch of matchups, but particularly Sarkos has had consistently good form. The striker has scored eight goals with two assists this season, with six goals scored over his final three games. He has scored the game-winning goal in four of Lehigh's five wins this season, a number that tops the league leaderboard.
Luchini's five goals are second on the team and his five assists leads the way. Bednarsky has two assists, both in his last two outings.
Lehigh has saved its best soccer for the end of the season, out-scoring teams 11-5 over its last four league games, going 4-0-0 in those matchups.
Notably, this is the first time the Mountain Hawks are starting the tournament in the quarterfinal round since 2017 (a 3-0 loss vs. Holy Cross). The last time Lehigh won a quarterfinal round matchup was against Bucknell in 2015 (2-0), the first of three wins in the tournament contributing to the Mountain Hawks' second Patriot League title in program history.
Navy comes into Saturday night's quarterfinal affair looking for answers after dropping three of its last four games including a heartbreaking defeat to American on Wednesday afternoon on the road. The Midshipmen (11-5-1, 5-4-0 PL) haven't had the best form as of late, but still come into the tournament as a dangerous team with a lot of offensive and defensive firepower.
Navy has two Patriot League major award winners in Jacob Williams (Offensive Player of the Year) and Matt Nocita (Defensive Player of the Year), as well as eight All-Patriot League selections (Williams, Nocita, Sidney Paris, Baba Kallie, David Jackson, Tyler Fahning, Tyler Collins and JD Wagner).
Williams is Navy's leader in goals with six, adding four assists, while Paris has added four goals with seven assists to his ledger. Jackson is tied for third with four goals and five assists. The Mids are averaging 1.76 goals per game this season with Tyler Fahning coming into the game with nine shutouts and a 0.91 goals against average.
Lehigh took down Navy earlier this season on Oct. 23 in Annapolis, thanks to the first career hat trick for Sarkos. He scored the three goals in the first, 32nd and 92nd minutes for the overtime victory. Josh Luchini provided two of the Mountain Hawks' five total assists.
The Midshipmen hold a 32-22-7 all-time advantage in the series with Lehigh claiming the previous five matchups dating back to 2016. This will be the Mountain Hawks' first-ever matchup against Navy in the Patriot League Tournament. Lehigh is 11-10-7 all-time in tournament games.
Saturday's fixture will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required) with opening kick set for 6 p.m. The winner will take on either No. 1 Loyola Maryland or No. 2 American on the road Tuesday in the semifinal round.
Tickets for the Patriot League Quarterfinal matchup against Navy on Saturday night at 6 p.m. are on sale now! They can be purchased by visiting lehightickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263. Tickets are priced at $5. Patriot League students receive free admission with their school ID.
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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