BETLEHEM, Pa. – Needing a win to clinch its fourth straight Patriot League Tournament berth, and a tie to keep its hopes alive until Saturday's out-of-town games, the Lehigh women's soccer team fell just shy against visiting American on a chilly Friday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The Eagles scored the game's only goal with 1:14 remaining in double overtime to end an action-packed, back-and-forth contest which saw plenty of opportunities from both sides. With the defeat, the Mountain Hawks end their season with a 5-8-5 record, 3-5-1 in league play.
 
"Tonight was an example of our whole season," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "We can play really good soccer and we do really good things, but finishing the job is what we've struggled with. I do feel this group had a bit more potential than the results have shown, but the results are what they are and I have to own that. I have to own the fact that I thought we could have been better than what we were, but it didn't come off."
 
American opened with the game's first eight shots, three of which were saved by junior goalkeeper Miranda Royds. Lehigh's first chance came in the 29th minute off the foot of senior Kayla Arestivo. That started a run of six consecutive Mountain Hawk shots to end the half.
 
Sophomore Rebecca Van Siclen had two strong looks within moments in the 38th and 41st minutes, respectively. The second chance saw her elude multiple defenders all the way up field, eventually finding herself all in on goal, but American goalkeeper Ryleigh Brown came out strong to make the save.
 
Lehigh continued the momentum in the second half, holding a 15-5 edge in shots. The Mountain Hawks' best chance didn't even go into the stat sheet as a shot. In the 51st minute, junior Lisa Kestelboym found senior Kayla Arestivo in the box, who immediately found junior Grace Forsyth. Forsyth's shot settled into the back of the net, but the play was whistled offside.
 
Earlier in the stanza, sophomore Abby Furtmann had a point-blank shot which was stopped. In the end, Lehigh had seven of the first 10 second-half shots to extend its shots edge to 13-3 after American got off to the 8-0 start.
 
From the 70th minute to 90th minute, the Mountain Hawks had another 8-0 advantage in shots, but only one was on goal, as the game went into overtime scoreless.
 
Each side had a pair of shots on goal in the first overtime. Arestivo's chance in the 97th minute looked like it may sneak over the line, but American defender Asia Horne cleared it out of harm's way.
 
Lehigh had another strong chance in the second overtime, as senior Annika Jansa's shot in the 102nd minute went off the crossbar.
 
The Eagles wouldn't be denied in the 109th minute as Charly Slavick fed Tiffany Zukosky towards goal. Her shot was saved by Royds, but Morgan Lang put home the rebound.
 
Final shots were 26-19 in favor of Lehigh while American held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Royds tied a career high with 11 saves while a pair of Eagles' goalkeepers made nine.
 
"All the seniors have been great for us over their four years," said Lambinus. "They've worked hard and we've had some great results. They've been a big part of everything we've done. I feel bad for them that we weren't able to move on, make the postseason and be that class that could make it all four years.
 
"I can't fault the team's effort, I can't fault their want," Lambinus continued. "We were driving after it trying to get the final goal and we got caught on a break. I thought American played well. We just have to figure out where to move the program going forward and see if we can continue to get better."
 
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