Lehigh tops Binghamton, 2-0

September 9, 2016

Box Score 

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's soccer team scored a pair of second-half goals to break a scoreless tie, on its way to a 2-0 win over Binghamton on Friday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex. With the win, the Mountain Hawks improve to 4-0-1 on the season as they extended their shutout streak to 543:57 dating back to 2015. The last time Lehigh began its season with five straight shutouts was 2005.

 
"The second half was tremendous," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "It was a really good performance and it was worked off our defense. We did a really good job of being in good position so when we won the ball, we could counter as much as possible. We attacked the right way; we were more dynamic and we worked together. We got two really good assists on the goals where in the first half, we were too individualistic."
 
Just over three minutes into the second half, the Mountain Hawks broke the scoreless tie. Near the end line, sophomore Sabrina Mertiz found Sidonie Warnecker in front of the net where the freshman buried her first-career goal to give Lehigh a 1-0 lead at the 48:08 mark.
 
Lehigh doubled its lead in the 65th minute when freshman Kayla Arestivo chipped the ball to junior Grace Correll in the box, who made a quick touch past Binghamton goalkeeper Katie Hatziyianis to give the Mountain Hawks a 2-0 advantage.
 
Senior Tori Pantaleo nearly gave Lehigh an insurance goal with multiple glittering opportunities, including a chance in the 77th minute which hit the left post and bounced out. The two goals proved to be more than enough for the Lehigh defense, which held Binghamton to three second-half shots, two coming in the final 2:02.
 
The first half saw nine combined shots on goal between the teams, but most came from distance and the two netminders had little issue making the saves. Lehigh fired six first-half shots on goal, but couldn't put one past Hatziyianis. All three saves from Lehigh freshman goalkeeper Sam Miller came in the first half.
 
After a slim 6-5 edge in first-half shots, the Mountain Hawks finished with a commanding 19-8 advantage. Lehigh had three corner kicks to Binghamton's one.
 
"That was one of the better crowds that we've had on a Friday night. They were loud and they were into it in the second half," said Lambinus. "I think we sparked them a little bit with our play, but they carried it through which makes it a lot easier to play. It was great."
 
The Mountain Hawks return to action in less than 48 hours as they head to Villanova on Sunday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
 
"We need to be prepared physically and mentally to be able to play at our very best," said Lambinus. "You know it's going to be tiring to play in two days, but I think we rotated the players pretty well tonight. They're going to be a tough, physical team. They've played some really good opponents, so they're battle tested already. It's going to be up to us to match that intensity, have that patient aggressiveness and not let the game get frantic."

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