Complete Patriot League Release

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following three goals over the weekend, Lehigh women's soccer freshman Sabrina Mertz has been named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, as announced on Monday. The weekly award marks the first of Mertz's career while it's already the fourth for the Mountain Hawks this season. Mertz scored Lehigh's first goal vs. Monmouth Friday while scoring her squad's first two goals against Saint Joseph's Sunday.
 
Mertz joins senior Ani Nahapetian, junior Tori Pantaleo and sophomore Alyssa Riporti who previously won a Patriot League weekly award this season. Mertz is the second Lehigh to win Offensive Player of the Week, along with Pantaleo following the season opener vs. Mount St. Mary's.
 
Mertz accounted for three of the team's five goals in a tie and victory, both over quality opponents who were a combined 8-2-1 entering the respective games. Monmouth entered Friday's game 4-1-1 while Saint Joseph's entered Sunday's game 4-1-0.
 
The Orefield, Pa. native scored the game's first goal against Monmouth in the 34th minute, finishing a tough-angle shot to give Lehigh a 1-0 lead. On Sunday, Mertz scored an even more impressive goal on an even tougher angle near the end line to pull Lehigh even with Saint Joseph's in the 26th minute. Mertz went on to add the go-ahead goal in the 56th minute off a rebound attempt. Lehigh added insurance to make it 3-1 before Saint Joseph's pulled within 3-2, which proved to be the final.
 
Mertz's two goals tied a career high, set in the season opener vs. Mount St. Mary's. She now has a team-leading six goals and 14 points on the season.
 
Also recognized on Monday was senior Ani Nahapetian who earned honorable mention recognition following 18 saves over the two games, including a career-high 12 stops in Friday's 2-2 tie vs. Monmouth.
 
The Mountain Hawks now look ahead to Patriot League play, which begins on Saturday as Lehigh welcomes Holy Cross at 5 p.m.
 
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