Posted: 02/24/2012 | Last updated: February 24, 2012 at 11:41 AM
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After opening its season with a home win over Marist, the Lehigh women’s lacrosse team will travel to Newark this weekend to take on the University of Delaware. Opening draw is set for 3 p.m. Saturday. Lehigh looks avenge a tough 10-9 overtime loss to the Blue Hens last season.
Delaware (1-1, 0-0 CAC) is coming off an 11-7 home win against Villanova last week. Before that, the Blue Hens fell to No. 2 Maryland, 21-4 in their season opener. The Hens went 8-9 last season, including 3-4 in the CAA, barely missing a tournament berth.
Lehigh (1-0, 0-0 Patriot League) jumped out to a 6-0 halftime lead vs. Marist, and will look to continue the momentum against Delaware. Seven Mountain Hawks recorded points on the afternoon, led by senior co-captain and reigning Patriot League Midfielder of the Week Leigh Ann Torcivia, who had five (two goals, three assists). Sophomore Julie Tatios recorded two goals on the day, while four other Mountain Hawks added a goal each.
Sophomore goalie Alex Fitzpatrick saved 11-of-16 Marist shots and held the Red Foxes scoreless for the first 35:10 of the contest. Fitzpatrick and the defense again stepped up to shut out the Red Foxes for the final 7:23 of the contest to preserve the Lehigh victory.
Fitzpatrick, the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, will look to shut down a Delaware offense led by freshman midfielder Caitlin McCartney, who has eight points through her first two games (seven goals, one assist) and has recorded back-to-back hat tricks to open her collegiate career. Sophomore Chelsea Fay also has four goals on the season, good for second on the Blue Hens.
Delaware has utilized a pair of goalies in each of their games this season. Freshman Alex Zaugra recorded seven saves in the first half of last week’s contest to earn the win against Villanova, while sophomore Tori Zorovich held Villanova to just three goals in the second in her second relief appearance. The two combined for eight saves on the day.
Saturday will mark the 30th meeting between the Mountain Hawks and Blue Hens, with Delaware holding a 22-7 lead. The teams have split the last two contests, with the road team winning each. Prior to 2010, the teams had not faced each other since 1997, when the Blue Hens downed the Mountain Hawks in Newark.
Lehigh will return home next Wednesday and Saturday to host in-state foes Temple and Robert Morris, respectively.