Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Mountain Hawks Head to Massachusetts for Games at Holy Cross, Merrimack
9/30/2021 9:57:00 AM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Winners of two straight and four of its last five, the Lehigh field hockey team is set for two games in Massachusetts this weekend. The Mountain Hawks begin with a key Patriot League game at Holy Cross Saturday before traveling to Merrimack for a Sunday showdown against the Warriors. Both games will begin at 12 p.m.
Sunday's game will be available on NEC Front Row. Saturday's contest won't be streamed, but live stats will be available.
Lehigh stands 6-3 and 2-0 in the Patriot League following wins of 7-2 at Colgate and 4-0 vs. Sacred Heart last weekend. The Mountain Hawks' seven goals at Colgate marked their most since scoring nine against Robert Morris during the 2004 season. Lehigh jumped out to leads of 3-0 and 7-1, on the way to the convincing league victory. The Mountain Hawks followed with their first shutout of the season against the Pioneers Sunday, the team's largest shutout victory since the 2016 campaign.
Junior Sarah Bonthuis led the way Saturday with two goals and an assist for a career-high five points. Graduate student Lenke Havas had two goals and an assist Sunday. To go with a goal Saturday, and strong defensive play (Lehigh allowed just two shots all game Sunday and none over the final three quarters), Havas was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week. Bonthuis garnered Offensive Player of the Week and junior Maddie Kahn was named the league's Goalkeeper of the Week after stopping seven-of-nine shots sent her way over the two games.
Lehigh's 6-3 record marks its best record after nine games since 1998.
Holy Cross enters the weekend with a 4-4 record, 0-2 in league play. The Crusaders are coming off a 5-2 win over Sunday's opponent, Merrimack. Holy Cross' other wins have come at Saint Francis (Pa.), vs. Sacred Heart and against Bryant. Sinead Walsh leads the Crusaders in goals (3 – tied), assists (4) and points (10). Three others have scored three goals apiece. Meghan Noone has the team's only defensive save thus far. A pair of goalkeepers have split time, led by Emma Lauber's 2.30 goals against average and 76.9 save percentage.
The Crusaders have won the last four in the all-time series with Lehigh to take a 21-11 advantage. Prior to that, the Mountain Hawks had won six of the previous eight.
Merrimack enters a Friday matchup vs. Rider with an 0-8 record. The Warriors did have a tight 2-1 defeat at Brown and began the season with a slim 2-0 loss at Temple. Katelyn Bennett leads Merrimack in goals (2) and points (4) while Alyssa Crochetiere and Cally McSweeney have a defensive save each. Riley Brown has seen the majority of time in goal, starting seven games and recording a 4.18 GAA and 65.7 save percentage.
Sunday will mark the first-ever meeting between Lehigh and Merrimack.
Following this weekend, the Mountain Hawks return home for two next weekend, hosting American on Saturday, Oct. 9 (11 a.m.) and Temple on Sunday, Oct. 10 (1 p.m.).
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Sunday's game will be available on NEC Front Row. Saturday's contest won't be streamed, but live stats will be available.
Lehigh stands 6-3 and 2-0 in the Patriot League following wins of 7-2 at Colgate and 4-0 vs. Sacred Heart last weekend. The Mountain Hawks' seven goals at Colgate marked their most since scoring nine against Robert Morris during the 2004 season. Lehigh jumped out to leads of 3-0 and 7-1, on the way to the convincing league victory. The Mountain Hawks followed with their first shutout of the season against the Pioneers Sunday, the team's largest shutout victory since the 2016 campaign.
Junior Sarah Bonthuis led the way Saturday with two goals and an assist for a career-high five points. Graduate student Lenke Havas had two goals and an assist Sunday. To go with a goal Saturday, and strong defensive play (Lehigh allowed just two shots all game Sunday and none over the final three quarters), Havas was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week. Bonthuis garnered Offensive Player of the Week and junior Maddie Kahn was named the league's Goalkeeper of the Week after stopping seven-of-nine shots sent her way over the two games.
Lehigh's 6-3 record marks its best record after nine games since 1998.
Holy Cross enters the weekend with a 4-4 record, 0-2 in league play. The Crusaders are coming off a 5-2 win over Sunday's opponent, Merrimack. Holy Cross' other wins have come at Saint Francis (Pa.), vs. Sacred Heart and against Bryant. Sinead Walsh leads the Crusaders in goals (3 – tied), assists (4) and points (10). Three others have scored three goals apiece. Meghan Noone has the team's only defensive save thus far. A pair of goalkeepers have split time, led by Emma Lauber's 2.30 goals against average and 76.9 save percentage.
The Crusaders have won the last four in the all-time series with Lehigh to take a 21-11 advantage. Prior to that, the Mountain Hawks had won six of the previous eight.
Merrimack enters a Friday matchup vs. Rider with an 0-8 record. The Warriors did have a tight 2-1 defeat at Brown and began the season with a slim 2-0 loss at Temple. Katelyn Bennett leads Merrimack in goals (2) and points (4) while Alyssa Crochetiere and Cally McSweeney have a defensive save each. Riley Brown has seen the majority of time in goal, starting seven games and recording a 4.18 GAA and 65.7 save percentage.
Sunday will mark the first-ever meeting between Lehigh and Merrimack.
Following this weekend, the Mountain Hawks return home for two next weekend, hosting American on Saturday, Oct. 9 (11 a.m.) and Temple on Sunday, Oct. 10 (1 p.m.).
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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