BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A nearly 500-day layoff between collegiate games didn't phase junior forward Josh Luchini on Saturday night, as he netted his second career hat trick to lead the Lehigh men's soccer team past Bucknell, 4-1 at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The All-American Luchini, who was making his spring 2021 debut against the Bison, now has 20 career goals and 46 career points over 41 career games played in the brown and white.
 
The Mountain Hawks' four goals are the most since scoring four against Boston University on Sept. 28, 2019, a 4-2 victory, which also happens to be Luchini's first-career hat trick.
 
"First off, we needed three points to compete in this division and getting our first three points of the season tonight was really important," said head coach Dean Koski. "Every game is a playoff and we know what Bucknell brings and we know that they're always going to be a good team. I thought the first half was indicative of that.
 
"But it was good to open it up in the second half and get some goals. Obviously, Josh Luchini is special in more ways than one, but we did a really good job of providing him the opportunities to get the ball in dangerous spots. It's good to have him back and we're not anywhere near 100 percent yet. So being able to get this result with missing some key starters was good for us."
 
Looking for their first win of the season, the Mountain Hawks (1-1, 1-1 South) got out to an early 1-0 lead in the in 35th minute after Bucknell fouled Lehigh in the box setting up a penalty kick try. Sophomore forward Jack Sarkos hammered in his first career goal to put Lehigh ahead, 1-0.
 
Both teams were after each other early and often, as three yellow cards were recorded in a span of three minutes, including two on the Mountain Hawks following the PK.
 
Aside from Sarkos' goal near the tail end of the half, good chances were few and far between in the first 45 minutes, as Bucknell led in that category, 4-2. Lehigh had eight first half fouls as opposed to Bucknell's three.
 
Coming out of the break, Luchini saw his first action of the game in the second half after starting the contest on the bench for the first time this season. He made quick work of his appearance, scoring on a breakaway in the 48th minute to put the Mountain Hawks on top, 2-0.
 
Lehigh played with a two-goal lead for much of the next 25 minutes or so when a free kick was placed perfectly along the back post, finding the head of Trevor Wiggins as the Bison cut the deficit in half at 2-1.
 
Just a couple minutes later in the 75th, Luchini found the back of the net again, a pass from Bratislav Petkovic, which Luchini finished for the brace, extending Lehigh's lead to 3-1.
 
In the 79th, Michael Tahiru put a through ball up top for Luchini to grab it, flicking it in off the cross bar and in for his third goal of the game, putting the game out of reach at 4-1 as the Mountain Hawks pulled away for the three-goal victory.
 
Lehigh scored four goals on just six shots, including five on goal in the victory, while Bucknell won the battle, 14-6. All three of Luchini's shots went in, as Nolan Jetter, Austen Carranza and Sarkos added one apiece.
 
The Mountain Hawks' defense did its part, as freshman goalkeeper Blake Koski allowed just one goal on 13 shots faced, making a save.
 
"We're obviously mixing up some players in the back and I've been really pleased with everyone who stepped on the field," said Koski. "I thought Hassane Diakho had a really good game for us as a freshman. But Tyler Dressman, Nick Jennings and Jonathan Blaine do a really good job of managing the middle. And I think our wing backs, who we're subbing and platooning them, all four of them did a nice job of giving us a lift when we needed it."
 
Lehigh will take on Loyola Maryland on the road Saturday at 1 p.m. The Greyhounds fell in overtime to American Saturday night, 2-1 to start the season at 0-1.
 
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.