Mountain Hawks drop 3-0 final to Penn

October 26, 2011
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Despite outshooting defending Ivy League Champion Penn, 9-7, the Lehigh women’s soccer team struggled to put away a goal in falling to the Quakers, 3-0, on Wednesday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Penn grabbed momentum early, with a goal at the 7:46 mark, but the Mountain Hawks continued to battle in finishing with six shots on goal. However, Quakers’ goalkeeping duo of Sarah Banks and Caroline Williams combined to pitch the shutout.
 
The win gives Penn its eighth straight victory, pushing its overall record to 13-2-0. With the loss, Lehigh falls to 6-9-2.
 
“You look at the score and would think we didn’t give the effort,” said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. “But that’s the exact opposite of what happened. This game is indicative of how our season has been. We’re getting good chances, but not converting and giving up goals at bad times.”
 
Down 3-0 following a goal at the 49:00 mark, Lehigh continued to fight, outshooting Penn, 5-2, the rest of the way, with four going on goal. That included some glittering chances from sophomore Murphee Greeley, who posted a team-high four shots (two on goal) for the evening.
 
“Our team has a lot of pride and loves to play the game of soccer,” said Lambinus. “We’re working hard to get better, but unfortunately, the results aren’t what we want. Hopefully, we can find a way to turn it around Saturday [at Holy Cross] and as we progress into next season.”
 
Greeley’s best chance came in the 77th minute as she unleashed a low shot, but Williams made a sensational save to deny what would have been Greeley’s team-leading sixth goal of the season. Less than 20 minutes earlier, Greeley had a similar opportunity from the top of the box.
 
Kathryn Barth gave Penn the early lead at the 7:46, finishing a low shot past Lehigh sophomore goalkeeper Ali Griffin, who was making her second start of the season. The Quakers went on to make it 2-0 at 25:26 when Marin McDermott finished a cross in front of the net.
 
Lehigh responded with two corner kicks, and the final three shots of the first half, but couldn’t get one past Banks.
 
Penn added insurance just four minutes into the second half, but the Mountain Hawks wouldn’t quit. In the end, they were held scoreless for the fourth time in their last five games.
 
Final shots were 9-7 in favor of Lehigh. Griffin finished with one save in the first half while freshman Ashley Blanks came in to make two stops in the second. Banks had two saves in the first before Williams made four in the second.
 
Lehigh looks to end the season on a high note when it travels to Holy Cross to face the Crusaders. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
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