Thursday, November 19
Hempstead, N.Y.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
13-6-3
1
at
2
Hofstra
14-7-0
1
2
OT 1
F
Lehigh
1
0
0
1
Hofstra
0
1
1
2
Lehigh falls 2-1 in overtime heartbreaker at Hofstra in NCAA Tournament
11/19/2015 10:39:00 PM | Men's Soccer
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Lehigh men's soccer team controlled a 1-0 lead at halftime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on a rainy, windy night at Hofstra, but The Pride tied the game late in the second half to force overtime before scoring the eventual game winner with 54 seconds left in overtime as Hofstra grabbed the 2-1 win. The Pride advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament to take on No. 3 Georgetown, while Lehigh's successful 2015 season comes to a close at 13-6-3.
"It's obviously disappointing whenever your season comes to an end," said head coach Dean Koski. "I thought we did a nice job in the first half of playing the way we wanted to play. The second half was a very different tale for us and Hofstra did a nice job of pinning us back in our half a lot. I'm disappointed for my team because they had a great year and I'm immensely proud of the guys."
Despite the loss, the Mountain Hawks still have plenty to be proud of including winning their second-ever Patriot League Championship in 2015. Lehigh made its fourth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and finished the season with 13 wins, marking the fourth time in program history the Mountain Hawks have tallied 13 or more wins in a season.
"We walked on the field as Patriot League Champions and we walked off the field as Patriot League Champions," said Koski. "That is in no small part due to the contributions that our seven seniors (Everett McCord, Ryan Bertrando, Brian Vail, Ben Davis, Kyle Chin, Jamie Luchini and Austin Decker) made to this team. Winning the Patriot League Championship and getting into the NCAA Tournament is something they should always feel proud of."
Scoring opportunities were few and far between in the opening minutes as the driving rains and heavy winds forced each team to concentrate on getting its footing and making safe touches. Senior Jamie Luchini had the game's first dangerous chance in the 18th minute when he fired an attempt that ricocheted off the crossbar.
Just three minutes later, freshman Alex Greene took control of the ball off a left-sided Lehigh throw-in and got off a cross that the Hofstra defense wasn't able to clear on the slick surface as freshman Mark Forrest fired the point-blank shot into the lower right-hand corner of the net to put Lehigh ahead 1-0 in the 21st minute. The goal was Forrest's 11th of the season as he wraps up his rookie campaign with an impressive 26 points (11 goals, four assists).
The Mountain Hawks continued to threaten as Lehigh got off two corner kicks and four shots, two of which were saved by Hofstra keeper Patric Pray, in the next nine minutes. The Pride picked up its pace in the final 15 minutes of the half as Hofstra got off its first shot on goal in the 39th minute, but Lehigh sophomore keeper Joe Bogan was able to make the diving save. Hofstra recorded the final five shots of the stanza, but Lehigh was able to carry its 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Pride controlled possession for the first five minutes of the second half and had their best opportunity yet in the 51st minute when a dangerous cross nearly found the foot of a Hofstra attacker, but skirted just out of reach to keep Lehigh ahead 1-0. Sophomore Doyle Tuvesson got off a Lehigh shot in the 62nd minute, but it was all Hofstra from there on.
The Pride held the ball in Lehigh's defensive third for most of the second half and peppered Lehigh with three shots, including a Joseph Holland free kick that hit the crossbar, before Hofstra found an equalizer in the 77th minute. Mario Ruiz scored his first goal of the season when he sent one past Bogan into the lower-left hand corner of the next to tie the score at 1-1 with 13:54 to play in regulation. The Pride nearly netted the game-winner with just 30 seconds left on the clock when Meshack Eshun Addy found himself in a one-on-one situation with Bogan and his shot skirted just wide before the teams went to overtime tied at 1-1.
The teams exchanged possession in the first five minutes of overtime until The Pride threatened with three corner kicks and a shot from Holland that sailed just high in the 96th minute. The Mountain Hawks were nearly able to force a second overtime period, but with just 54 seconds left on the clock Daniel Massey headed in the golden goal to give Hofstra the 2-1 win and advance The Pride to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Hofstra finished with a 20-12 shot advantage, while The Pride also controlled a 9-3 corner kick edge. Bogan finished with two saves compared to Pray's five.
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Team Stats
LEHIGH
HOFSTRA
Goals
1
2
Shots
12
20
Shots on Goal
6
4
Saves
2
5
Corners
3
9
Fouls
10
8
Scoring Plays
Forrest, Mark (11)
Assisted By: Greene, Alex
ballplayed into box, misplayed, and shot
20:21
Ruiz, Mario (1)
ball was deflected by defense and put in
76:05
Massey, Daniel (2)
Assisted By: Iosifides, Andreas
ball crossed from right side and headed
99:06
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's SoccerF/M
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's SoccerF/M
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GK
/ Men's SoccerF
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M/D
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