Posted: October 10, 2007
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Junior Kalynn Davies and sophomore Kelly Fox netted two goals apiece as Lehigh erased a two goal halftime deficit and rallied past Rider 4-2 Wednesday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Fox netted the game-winning goal at the 51:37 mark, as the Mountain Hawks evened their record at 6-6 on the year with the victory, while Rider is also 6-6 after the loss.
Lehigh had the better of the ball possession in the first half, but it was Rider who was able to create scoring chances. Emily Egan gave the Broncs the lead 14 minutes in with her first goal of the season, and Lindsay Rajeski scored off of a penalty corner three minutes later to put Rider up 2-0 halfway through the first half.
“We possessed the ball well in the first half, we just weren’t finishing our chances,” said Lehigh head coach Julie Mazer. “We made good adjustments at halftime, and it proved to make a big difference in the second half.”
Mazer implored her team to start the second half strong, and the Mountain Hawks responded with their most prolific offensive half of the season this far. Fox put Lehigh on the scoreboard just over two minutes into the half, scoring her third goal of the season, with junior Kara Zweizig earning an assist. In the 41st minute, Lehigh pulled even as the Mountain Hawks capitalized on congestion in front of the goal cage. Senior Christy Smith found Davies, who was able to poke the ball home to tie the game.
Fox provided the game winner in the 52nd minute, when she redirected Zweizig’s redirection of a Christy Smith shot attempt into an open cage for her fifth tally of the year. Davies completed the four-goal second half assault, scoring her league-leading tenth goal of the season on a feed from Fox with just over two minutes to play.
“I was really impressed with our character tonight, in the way we kept fighting and were able to work our way back into the game in the second half,” added Mazer.
Lehigh out shot Rider 13-11 and had a 12-3 advantage in penalty corners, including an 8-0 edge in the second half. Freshman Jessica Miller was credited with eight saves in goal for the Brown and White, while Jen LoCastro stopped five shots for the Broncs.
The Mountain Hawks will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they head to Worcester, Massachusetts to continue Patriot League play against Holy Cross. Game time is set for noon from the Hart Turf Field.