Complete Patriot League Release
 
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh women's soccer freshman Sabrina Mertz has been named Patriot League Rookie of the Week after strong performances in a 2-0 week for the Mountain Hawks. Mertz assisted the game's only goal in a historic win at Penn Monday before scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal against Loyola Saturday.
 
The weekly award marks Mertz's second of the season following Offensive Player of the Week laurels on Sept. 14. As a team, the Mountain Hawks have now won all four weekly awards (Offensive, Defensive, Goalkeeper and Rookie) at least once this season.
 
Mertz began the week by playing an impressive through ball to sophomore Lexi Chang at Penn, leading to the game's only goal in a 1-0 win. The victory marked Lehigh's first-ever win at Penn and first win (home or away) against the Quakers since 1992.
 
Following an Adrian Vitello goal which gave the Mountain Hawks a 1-0 lead on Saturday, Mertz scored her seventh goal of the season less than six minutes later. Coming on a free kick just outside the box, the freshman fired a strike through a wall of defenders and the Loyola keeper to give the Mountain Hawks a 2-0 advantage at the 51:27 mark. That goal proved to be the difference in a 2-1 victory.
 
Mertz's seven goals and 17 points on the season lead Lehigh and are tied for third and tied for second in the Patriot League, respectively. Her 1.31 goals per game are tops in the league.
 
Also recognized on Monday was Vitello and senior Ani Nahapetian. Vitello, a sophomore, scored the first goal vs. Loyola Saturday on a rebound attempt while creating the second goal from being fouled just outside the box. Nahapetian stopped 15-of-16 shots on the week, beginning with an 11-save shutout of Penn before making five saves against the Greyhounds. Included was a sensational save in the 86th minute when a shot looked ticketed for just underneath the crossbar, but Nahapetian punched the ball out of harm's way.
 
Lehigh will return to action on Wednesday at Princeton (7 p.m.) before returning to Patriot League play on Saturday at Boston University (2 p.m.).
 
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