Severe’s goall lifts Lehigh past Temple

September 20, 2016

Box Score 

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's soccer team outshot Temple 17-5 after halftime, converting the 17th shot into the game's only goal as the Mountain Hawks earned a hard-fought 1-0 win on Tuesday. Sophomore Clare Severe sent Lehigh home winners with an unassisted tally in the 99th minute as the Mountain Hawks remain the only team in the nation that's unscored upon this season. With the win, Lehigh improves its record to 7-0-1, the best start in school history. Its eight-game unbeaten streak marks a school record while its seven-game winning streak ties a school mark.
 
The Mountain Hawks also extended their shutout streak to 822:16 dating back to last season.
 
"I thought our team played well," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "I was really impressed with Temple. I thought they came out with a really good game plan. They took away some of our strengths in their formation and the way they played. I thought we adapted pretty well and created some good opportunities. I was happy we finally got the goal in overtime."
 
The Mountain Hawks turned on the pressure as the game progressed, firing 14 shots, six of which were on goal, over the final 29 minutes of regulation. Lehigh was unable to convert until overtime when Severe fired a shot into the top right corner of the goal at the 98:19 mark.
 
"Temple is a young team," said Lambinus. "I thought we'd get their best effort, and we absolutely did, so it didn't surprise me. I was happy with our defensive effort as well. I was happy Clare Severe got the goal. I thought she was our best player and very much deserved the game-winner."
 
Following the first half, Lehigh held a 9-6 edge in shots, but most were from distance as the game was scoreless heading into halftime.
 
Temple was assessed a red card in the 56th minute and from that point forward, the Mountain Hawks held a controlling 14-4 shots edge the rest of the half. One of Lehigh's best chances came when senior Tori Pantaleo looked to slip a shot inside the right post, but Temple goalkeeper Jordan Nash moved to her left to make the save.
 
Less than two minutes later, junior Lexi Chang took a pass back from Pantaleo and fired a shot that looked ticketed for inside the right post, but Nash made an impressive stop. Junior Adrian Vitello had a chance in the 79th minute, but Nash made another impressive save.
 
Nash couldn't stop Severe's overtime shot as it was perfectly-placed into the corner for her second-career goal, giving Lehigh its second overtime win over Temple in as many years.
 
"We're really happy with the way we defended, especially on set pieces and perimeters, which they're good at," said Lambinus. "I'm never going to complain about a win in overtime. It's a sign of a good team."
 
Final shots were 26-11 in favor of Lehigh while the Mountain Hawks held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks. Freshman goalkeeper Sam Miller made four saves while Nash finished with nine.
 
The Mountain Hawks return to Patriot League action when they head to Colgate on Saturday. Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

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