2008 Woodie Awards
RSSLady Hawks beat Lafayette, end losing streak
By Kenny Burgess
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Sports
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Lehigh improved its record to 6-6-3 overall, 1-2-1 in league play while the Leopards fell to 4-11, 0-4 in the Patriot League. The win ended the Mountain Hawks' five game losing streak.
In a fast-paced game, the Hawks set up multiple give-and-go opportunities that led to numerous first-half scoring opportunities. Despite good ball control, the Hawks could not capitalize until the second half.
The Hawks broke the game loose in the 60th minute when Lafayette senior goalkeeper Mary Kate Erdman was unable to handle a cross pass from freshman midfielder Glynn Fitzer. Hawks sophomore midfielder Liz Carlos was there to tap the ball in off the rebound to give Lehigh a 1-0 lead, while garnering her team-leading fourth goal of the season.
Early in the first half, senior forward Melissa Montalvo had a one-on-one opportunity against Erdman, but could not complete the shot.
"It was frustrating to play so well and have the opportunities that we saw in the first half and not be able to finish," Head Coach Manny Oudin said.
Lehigh opened the second half with the same fervor, resuming control of the ball offensively.
With five minutes remaining in regulation, Lehigh tallied another goal to insure the win, when senior midfielder Jen Fetsick scored her third goal of the year off a corner kick. Montalvo and senior defender Andrea Yetter were credited with the assist.
"It felt great to get the win tonight," Fetsick said. "Coming into tonight's game we hadn't lost to Lafayette in the last five meetings so we wanted to keep the streak going."
The team dominated Lafayette in shots 26-6. Fetsick accounted for 10 of her own, four of them on goal. Defensively, the Hawks held Lafayette to just one shot on goal the entire game.
Lehigh's goalkeepers, junior Julie Kafka and freshman Lauren Mains, who played the first and second halves, respectively, helped keep the Leopards shut out.
The win was pivotal for the Hawks to qualify for the Patriot League post-season tournament.
"This was a big win for us," Oudin said. "We needed to get three points out of this game, and we were able to do so."
With the top four teams in the regular season qualifying for the tournament, Lehigh came into Saturday night's game sitting seventh, three points behind fourth-place Navy.
"As a senior, I'm happy that we got this win against our rival Lafayette in what is always an intense game," Montalvo said. "We needed it for the Patriot League standings. We're going to use this as momentum forward."
The Hawks will have an opportunity to use that momentum as they travel to Lewisburg, Pa. Friday to face Patriot League opponent Bucknell University.
The Bison, who have won four consecutive games, are 8-6 overall, 4-0 in league play.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Varsity Soccer Field.
