Tuesday, September 14
Teaneck, N.J.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
0-4-1, 0-0-0
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at
1
Fairleigh Dickinson
2-3-1, 0-0-0
1
2
3
4
F
Lehigh
0
1
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Fairleigh Dickinson
1
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Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Luchini's spectacular flying header seals Lehigh's 1-1 draw at FDU
9/15/2021 12:01:00 AM | Men's Soccer
TEANECK, N.J. – After dropping its first four decisions to open the 2021 season, the Lehigh men's soccer team snapped its losing streak, playing Fairleigh Dickinson to a double-overtime 1-1 draw Tuesday night on the road. With the tie, the Mountain Hawks (0-4-1) head into Patriot League play Saturday night against Loyola Maryland on a bit of momentum, following three goals in two matches.
The Knights scored first early in the second minute on a dead ball goal from Kevin Leonard, putting FDU out in front, 1-0.
"Aside from the first minute and a half where we gave up that early goal, for the other 88 minutes, we played some really good soccer," said The Ingrassia Family Men's Head Soccer Coach Dean Koski. "We were really organized defensively and I thought we got our best performances from Noah (Sutherland), Dawson (Berger), from Euan (Forrest), from Hassane (Diakho). We just settled into a really good defensive posture and created some really good scoring opportunities.
"I thought it was our best effort of the of the season to date so far. On both sides of the ball, we played the way we wanted to play. This was the first game where I walked off the field and said that everybody played the way they should play. It's refreshing and encouraging that we took a step forward today."
Lehigh went on the offensive following the early deficit, reeling off five straight chances including a shot on goal by Hassane Diakho in the 15th minute. The Mountain Hawks added two more to make it seven straight on two consecutive chances from Josh Luchini before senior goalkeeper Noah Sutherland made his first save of the contest in the 27th minute.
The Mountain Hawks led the Knights in shots, 7-4 at the end of the first period, despite the one-goal deficit.
FDU played a very offense-centric second half to start, but to no avail as Josh Luchini equalized the score in the 63rd minute on an absurd flying header off the assist from Jack Sarkos, a great pass from Dominic Flowers and as always, a great ball from beyond midfield from Euan Forrest.
The goal, Luchini's second in as many games, gives the senior forward 22 for his career totaling 52 points in four seasons.
"But it was as good of a goal we have seen in a while."
Although Lehigh had four shots miss the mark following Luchini's goal in the second half, FDU fired off 10 in the final 28 minutes or so without finding the back of the net.
The Knights controlled possession in the first overtime period, but Sutherland made two clutch saves to force a final 10-minute interval.
Luchini had a shot saved bottom left in the 105th minute to try to give the Mountain Hawks the victory and Jack Sarkos missed out left in the 106th as the buzzer sounded with both teams settling for the 1-1 draw.
FDU out-shot Lehigh 23-14 on the evening with 10 shots on goal to the Mountain Hawks' four. Sutherland made a career-high nine saves and despite a very early goal, was near-perfect the rest of the way, helping snap Lehigh's losing skid.
Luchini led the way with seven total shots including three on goal, while Trevor Koski and Dominic Flowers each tallied two.
Lehigh begins Patriot League play on Saturday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex against Loyola Maryland. The match begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
"I think we are moving in a good direction as we approach league play," Koski said. "We're certainly never happy with results that don't go our way, but I'm looking at it from a team perspective and a growth perspective. We have to get better every game and I think the last couple games we have shown some improvement.
"The players are getting closer to playing the brand of soccer we want to play moving forward and we know that Loyola are one of the best teams in our conference year in and year out. So yeah, it's going to be challenging for us. We just need to make sure we bring our best out on Saturday because we knew they will bring their best."
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
The Knights scored first early in the second minute on a dead ball goal from Kevin Leonard, putting FDU out in front, 1-0.
"Aside from the first minute and a half where we gave up that early goal, for the other 88 minutes, we played some really good soccer," said The Ingrassia Family Men's Head Soccer Coach Dean Koski. "We were really organized defensively and I thought we got our best performances from Noah (Sutherland), Dawson (Berger), from Euan (Forrest), from Hassane (Diakho). We just settled into a really good defensive posture and created some really good scoring opportunities.
"I thought it was our best effort of the of the season to date so far. On both sides of the ball, we played the way we wanted to play. This was the first game where I walked off the field and said that everybody played the way they should play. It's refreshing and encouraging that we took a step forward today."
Lehigh went on the offensive following the early deficit, reeling off five straight chances including a shot on goal by Hassane Diakho in the 15th minute. The Mountain Hawks added two more to make it seven straight on two consecutive chances from Josh Luchini before senior goalkeeper Noah Sutherland made his first save of the contest in the 27th minute.
The Mountain Hawks led the Knights in shots, 7-4 at the end of the first period, despite the one-goal deficit.
FDU played a very offense-centric second half to start, but to no avail as Josh Luchini equalized the score in the 63rd minute on an absurd flying header off the assist from Jack Sarkos, a great pass from Dominic Flowers and as always, a great ball from beyond midfield from Euan Forrest.
The goal, Luchini's second in as many games, gives the senior forward 22 for his career totaling 52 points in four seasons.
"Euan played a great ball out deep over top, Jack Sarkos got on the end of it and played as perfect a cross you could've played and Josh did a great job coming in far post and headed a terrific header," said Koski. "It was as well executed of a play as you could draw up and we didn't draw it up, they did.GET IN! 😱😱😱
— Lehigh Men's Soccer (@LehighMSoccer) September 15, 2021
One of the best things you'll see all day, as Josh Luchini puts away yet another #PLTop3 worthy goal.#GoLehigh | #DODN | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/eZaBBTcMDf
"But it was as good of a goal we have seen in a while."
Although Lehigh had four shots miss the mark following Luchini's goal in the second half, FDU fired off 10 in the final 28 minutes or so without finding the back of the net.
The Knights controlled possession in the first overtime period, but Sutherland made two clutch saves to force a final 10-minute interval.
Luchini had a shot saved bottom left in the 105th minute to try to give the Mountain Hawks the victory and Jack Sarkos missed out left in the 106th as the buzzer sounded with both teams settling for the 1-1 draw.
FDU out-shot Lehigh 23-14 on the evening with 10 shots on goal to the Mountain Hawks' four. Sutherland made a career-high nine saves and despite a very early goal, was near-perfect the rest of the way, helping snap Lehigh's losing skid.
Luchini led the way with seven total shots including three on goal, while Trevor Koski and Dominic Flowers each tallied two.
Lehigh begins Patriot League play on Saturday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex against Loyola Maryland. The match begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
"I think we are moving in a good direction as we approach league play," Koski said. "We're certainly never happy with results that don't go our way, but I'm looking at it from a team perspective and a growth perspective. We have to get better every game and I think the last couple games we have shown some improvement.
"The players are getting closer to playing the brand of soccer we want to play moving forward and we know that Loyola are one of the best teams in our conference year in and year out. So yeah, it's going to be challenging for us. We just need to make sure we bring our best out on Saturday because we knew they will bring their best."
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
LEI
FDU
Goals
1
1
Shots
14
23
Shots on Goal
4
11
Saves
10
3
Corners
8
11
Fouls
12
12
Scoring Plays
Kevin Leonhard (1)
Assisted By: Diego Arribas
GOAL by FDU Leonhard, Kevin Assist by Arribas, Diego.
01:47
Josh Luchini (2)
Assisted By: Jack Sarkos
GOAL by LEI Luchini, Josh Assist by Sarkos, Jack.
62:10
Game Leaders
Shots
7
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D/M
/ Men's SoccerD/M
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
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