Saturday, October 22
Bethlehem, Pa.
6 p.m.
Lehigh University
3
vs
1
American
Lehigh Clinches Patriot League Tournament Berth with 3-1 Win Over American
10/22/2022 8:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's soccer team clinched a berth in the Patriot League tournament with a 3-1 win over American on Saturday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The Mountain Hawks improve to 7-6-2 overall and 5-2-1 in league play where they sit in fourth-place with 16 points.
"Hats off to the team, I'm really impressed with their commitment to our team standards and it has been a battle," said head coach Lauren Calabrese. "Every team in the Patriot League has been strong and American was no different so I'm just really happy and pleased with the team and really excited that we're starting to gain traction and momentum."
Lehigh opened up the game with an early 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the first half. Sophomore Corinne Lyght soared past two American defenders to grab the cross from junior Alex Odle. Lyght laid the ball right into the back left corner of the net to secure the early lead for the Mountain Hawks.
The Eagles responded with a goal of their own just six minutes later to tie the score at 1-1. In the 28th minute, the Mountain Hawks put on a passing clinic within the American 18-yard box. First-year Sophia Lis found a wide open Ava Schaller sitting outside the 6-yard box. Schaller put the ball right past American goalkeeper Julia Kato to give the Mountain Hawks the 2-1 lead.
The Mountain Hawks opened up the second half with two more shot attempts before finding the back of the net on their third shot of the half. In the 64th minute, junior Imani Ashman sent a cross into the box from just outside the 18-yard box. First-year Sophia Lis got a foot on Ashman's pass, placing the ball past the American goalkeeper to give Lehigh the 3-1 lead.
"Momentum is created through a multitude of ways," said Calabrese. "One is we really understand our defensive principles and also in the attack. For us, it's having the ability to be resilient and bounce back. We know we can put goals away and we know we can defend as a unit and people step up which is great. Being a part of the team is that it's not just one person, it's multiple people who step up."
The Mountain Hawks led the Eagles 13-6 in shots and 3-2 in corner kicks. American goalkeeper Kato finished with five saves for the Eagles.
Saturday was also Senior Night for the Mountain Hawks where the team honored graduate-student Erin Keefe and seniors Chloe Sherman, Ciara Saxton, Julianna Bonner, Ryelle Shuey and Mattie Murphy prior to kickoff.
Lehigh will close out the regular season on Wednesday against Bucknell at 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks will play on Sunday, Oct. 30 in the Patriot League Quarterfinals.
"One game at a time," said Calabrese. "Bucknell is a strong team so it's a great opportunity for us to go out there and battle. There's nothing to lose so I know we can battle with them."
"Hats off to the team, I'm really impressed with their commitment to our team standards and it has been a battle," said head coach Lauren Calabrese. "Every team in the Patriot League has been strong and American was no different so I'm just really happy and pleased with the team and really excited that we're starting to gain traction and momentum."
Lehigh opened up the game with an early 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the first half. Sophomore Corinne Lyght soared past two American defenders to grab the cross from junior Alex Odle. Lyght laid the ball right into the back left corner of the net to secure the early lead for the Mountain Hawks.
The through ball from Odle and a clinical finish from Corinne Lyght to put Lehigh in front.
— Lehigh W. Soccer (@LehighWSoccer) October 22, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/C0RVRU3X45@espn @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/1CmnA83LmH
The Eagles responded with a goal of their own just six minutes later to tie the score at 1-1. In the 28th minute, the Mountain Hawks put on a passing clinic within the American 18-yard box. First-year Sophia Lis found a wide open Ava Schaller sitting outside the 6-yard box. Schaller put the ball right past American goalkeeper Julia Kato to give the Mountain Hawks the 2-1 lead.
Lehigh closed out the first half with two more shots but were unable to find the back of the net, closing out the first half with a 2-1 lead.Lis ➡️ Schaller to give Lehigh the 2-1 lead!
— Lehigh W. Soccer (@LehighWSoccer) October 22, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/C0RVRUl065@espn @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/OEhb6YgYRw
The Mountain Hawks opened up the second half with two more shot attempts before finding the back of the net on their third shot of the half. In the 64th minute, junior Imani Ashman sent a cross into the box from just outside the 18-yard box. First-year Sophia Lis got a foot on Ashman's pass, placing the ball past the American goalkeeper to give Lehigh the 3-1 lead.
Lehigh continued to bring the offensive intensity for the remainder of the game, putting up four shots within the final minutes before picking up its fifth league win of the season and clinching a top four seed in the Patriot League tournament.Ashman's assist + Lis' goal = 👩🍳🤌💋
— Lehigh W. Soccer (@LehighWSoccer) October 22, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/BO2uHGVLXT#PLTop3 @espn @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/4dGeVZaUuv
"Momentum is created through a multitude of ways," said Calabrese. "One is we really understand our defensive principles and also in the attack. For us, it's having the ability to be resilient and bounce back. We know we can put goals away and we know we can defend as a unit and people step up which is great. Being a part of the team is that it's not just one person, it's multiple people who step up."
The Mountain Hawks led the Eagles 13-6 in shots and 3-2 in corner kicks. American goalkeeper Kato finished with five saves for the Eagles.
Saturday was also Senior Night for the Mountain Hawks where the team honored graduate-student Erin Keefe and seniors Chloe Sherman, Ciara Saxton, Julianna Bonner, Ryelle Shuey and Mattie Murphy prior to kickoff.
Lehigh will close out the regular season on Wednesday against Bucknell at 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks will play on Sunday, Oct. 30 in the Patriot League Quarterfinals.
"One game at a time," said Calabrese. "Bucknell is a strong team so it's a great opportunity for us to go out there and battle. There's nothing to lose so I know we can battle with them."
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