Sunday, March 14
Easton, Pa.
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
(1-0, 1-0)
1
at
0
Lafayette
(0-1, 0-1)
1
2
3
4
F
Lehigh
0
0
1
0
1
Lafayette
0
0
0
0
0
Lehigh Opens Season With First Win at Lafayette Since 2005
3/14/2021 4:45:00 PM | Field Hockey
EASTON, Pa. – First-year Julia Gatelein scored the game's only goal at the 40:51 mark, and the Lehigh field hockey team held off a late Lafayette charge to down the Leopards, 1-0 in the season opener for both sides on Sunday afternoon. The win snapped Lehigh's seven-game losing streak at Lafayette, marking the program's first win in Easton since 2005.
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Lehigh head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer is now 4-1 in season openers in her five seasons at the helm. Each of the last six meetings between Lehigh and Lafayette have been one-goal contests. Sunday was the Mountain Hawks' first game in nearly 500 days – since a historic 2-1 overtime win over Boston University in November of 2019.
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"One of our goals this season has been to accomplish things that haven't yet been accomplished in the program," said Dallmeyer. "We talk about having a legendary season. Obviously with the pandemic, there's so much sacrifice that has had to be made by our student-athletes to even get to the point to step on the field. It was a tremendous reward to be able to capitalize in a rivalry game and come out with a win because it validates the work we've been doing."
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The first half saw limited scoring opportunities, with just a single shot on goal by each side. Most of the third-quarter action came in the Mountain Hawks' attacking zone, converting in the 41st minute off a penalty corner. Senior Lenke Havas made a move to get herself free, then fired towards the cage. It was deflected by a Lafayette defender in front, but found the stick of Gatelein, who beat goalkeeper Hailey Abbott with the rebound.
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Gatelein was one of three first-years to start the opener, along with Abbie Brown and Lotte Smorenburg.
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"They did a nice job of being poised," said Dallmeyer. "To have their first collegiate games be against Lafayette was certainly a big task in front of them, to make sure they were prepared. It was a complicated game plan, but they worked to be their best on the field every opportunity they had."
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From there, Lehigh's defense impressed in limiting Lafayette chances. When the Leopards did have opportunities, sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Kahn stood tall, finishing with two saves and a number of other plays that don't show up in the stat sheet.
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Final shots were 7-3 in favor of the Leopards while Lafayette held a slim 6-5 edge in penalty corners.
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"I'm happy with our ability to use our hockey IQ to make in-game adjustments as opposed to waiting until halftime or a stoppage in play," said Dallmeyer. "Lafayette made some good adjustments, and we were able to react. In the past, we wouldn't have been able to recognize it without the coaches pointing it out, but we were able to do that well today. We've definitely increased our ability to understand the game, adjust and execute."
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Sunday marked the second straight season Lehigh has won its Patriot League opener.
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The Mountain Hawks return to action next Sunday as they host Bucknell at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.
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Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
ÂGallery: (3-14-2021) Field Hockey at Lafayette, 3/14/21
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Lehigh head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer is now 4-1 in season openers in her five seasons at the helm. Each of the last six meetings between Lehigh and Lafayette have been one-goal contests. Sunday was the Mountain Hawks' first game in nearly 500 days – since a historic 2-1 overtime win over Boston University in November of 2019.
Â
"One of our goals this season has been to accomplish things that haven't yet been accomplished in the program," said Dallmeyer. "We talk about having a legendary season. Obviously with the pandemic, there's so much sacrifice that has had to be made by our student-athletes to even get to the point to step on the field. It was a tremendous reward to be able to capitalize in a rivalry game and come out with a win because it validates the work we've been doing."
Â
The first half saw limited scoring opportunities, with just a single shot on goal by each side. Most of the third-quarter action came in the Mountain Hawks' attacking zone, converting in the 41st minute off a penalty corner. Senior Lenke Havas made a move to get herself free, then fired towards the cage. It was deflected by a Lafayette defender in front, but found the stick of Gatelein, who beat goalkeeper Hailey Abbott with the rebound.
Â
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Gatelein was one of three first-years to start the opener, along with Abbie Brown and Lotte Smorenburg.
Â
"They did a nice job of being poised," said Dallmeyer. "To have their first collegiate games be against Lafayette was certainly a big task in front of them, to make sure they were prepared. It was a complicated game plan, but they worked to be their best on the field every opportunity they had."
Â
From there, Lehigh's defense impressed in limiting Lafayette chances. When the Leopards did have opportunities, sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Kahn stood tall, finishing with two saves and a number of other plays that don't show up in the stat sheet.
Â
Final shots were 7-3 in favor of the Leopards while Lafayette held a slim 6-5 edge in penalty corners.
Â
"I'm happy with our ability to use our hockey IQ to make in-game adjustments as opposed to waiting until halftime or a stoppage in play," said Dallmeyer. "Lafayette made some good adjustments, and we were able to react. In the past, we wouldn't have been able to recognize it without the coaches pointing it out, but we were able to do that well today. We've definitely increased our ability to understand the game, adjust and execute."
Â
Sunday marked the second straight season Lehigh has won its Patriot League opener.
Â
The Mountain Hawks return to action next Sunday as they host Bucknell at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.
Â
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Team Stats
LEHIGH
LAFAYETT
Goals
1
0
Shots
3
7
Shots on Goal
2
2
Saves
2
1
Corners
5
6
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
34
36
Scoring Plays
Gatelein, Julia (1)
GOAL by LEHIGH Gatelein, Julia (FIRST GOAL), goal number 1 for season.
40:51
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Field HockeyM/F
/ Field Hockey
D/M
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
F
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