Drexel’s Quick Response Downs Mountain Hawks, 2-1

Thursday, August 26

Philadelphia, Pa.

7 p.m.

Lehigh University

0-2-0, 0-0-0

Drexel

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Lehigh	1	0	1
Drexel	2	0	2

Drexel’s Quick Response Downs Mountain Hawks, 2-1

8/26/2021 11:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA – Sophomore Ava Schaller scored her first-career goal in the 37th minute to pull the Lehigh women's soccer team even at Drexel, but the Dragons responded less than a minute later off a corner kick to down the Mountain Hawks, 2-1 on Thursday evening. The first half featured most of the game's quality scoring chances, and all three goals, as the halftime score proved to be the final. With its second one-goal defeat, Lehigh falls to 0-2 ahead of its home opener vs. Siena on Sunday.

"I think they just outworked us today," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "They won more first balls, they won more second balls. That said, the two goals we gave up were completely unacceptable. A goal where it was a miscommunication with our back line and our goalie; we just handed them a goal. Then we give up a goal a minute after scoring our first goal. As much as I don't think we played really well, we gave ourselves a chance to win, but the two goals were unacceptable."

Just 5:11 into the game, Drexel took a quick 1-0 lead as a miscommunication led to the Dragons converting their first shot into a goal. Drexel tallied the net three shots until the Mountain Hawks nearly pulled even. Off a Dragons' corner kick in the 16th minute, Lehigh quickly went the other way on the counterattack. The end result was Corrine Lyght sprung in towards the net, but Drexel goalkeeper Miyuki Schoyen made a spectacular save on the Mountain Hawks' rookie.

In the 32nd minute, Lehigh had another golden opportunity as junior Ryelle Shuey fired a rocket off a free kick from distance. The shot beat Schoyen, but hit the crossbar and stayed out.

The Mountain Hawks wouldn't be denied in the 37th minute, though, as Lyght forced a turnover, made a move towards goal and fired a lefty shot. Schoyen made the save, but the ball corralled to sophomore Wendie Fisher, whose follow-up attempt hit the post. However, Schaller was there to put home the rebound for her first-collegiate goal.

Ava Schaller scores her first-career goal to finish off a tremendous team effort! pic.twitter.com/OCzxVshz0f
— Lehigh W. Soccer (@LehighWSoccer) August 27, 2021

The momentum was short-lived, as it took Drexel just 45 seconds to pull even off a corner kick to make it 2-1 at the 37:27 mark.

Second-half shots were 8-4 in favor of Drexel while shots on goal were 4-2, but the Mountain Hawks couldn't generate as many quality scoring chances as the first half. Lehigh's shots on goal came from Fisher in the 53rd minute and sophomore Alex Odle in the 67th minute. An Emma Roesing shot in the 72nd minute proved to be the Mountain Hawks' final attempt of the game.

Drexel finished with an 18-10 edge in shots and 9-2 advantage in corner kicks. Freshman Abby Trainor played the first half and made one save before sophomore Violette Bonvalett had four second-half stops.

"The second part of the first half, I thought we were really good and I thought we could take that momentum, but giving up the goal right on top of scoring was really deflating," said Lambinus.

The Mountain Hawks now turn their attention to their home opener against defending MAAC champion Siena. Gametime is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.

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Gallery: (8-26-2021) Women's Soccer at Drexel, 8/26/21