BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men’s soccer team posted its seventh shutout of the season as the Mountain Hawks beat Loyola 1-0 Saturday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex to secure the 200th victory of head coach Dean Koski’s career. Senior Jamie Luchini scored the game-winner on a penalty kick in the first half to help Lehigh improve to 2-3 in league play and 7-5-1 overall. Loyola falls to 1-9-2 overall and 0-4-1 in the Patriot League with the loss.

 

“Tonight’s game was scrappier than I wanted it to be and a bit disconnected at times, but we did what we needed to do on the defensive side of the ball,” said Koski. “I’m really happy for the guys to get three points on a really important game for us.”

 

Koski’s career record now moves to 200-176-58 throughout his 24-year career at Lehigh. Koski is by far the winningest coach in program history, tallying 122 more wins than any other leader of the team.

 

“I hope the milestone means more for the players and the alumni that have played for me than it does to me,” said Koski. “They’re the ones that contributed to it and they’re the reason I’ve gotten these wins.”

 

“We’re really proud of Coach Koski,” said junior captain Justin Worley. “He’s a unique coach because he develops us not just as soccer players, but as men. We really respect him for that and we’re all really proud of him tonight.”

 

Freshman Mark Forrest tallied the first shot of the game in the fourth minute, but it was saved by Loyola keeper Matt Sanchez. Sanchez then made three more saves, two on shots from Luchini and one from sophomore Danny Gonzalez, before Lehigh’s pressure payed off in the 23rd minute.  A Loyola hand ball in the box led to Luchini’s penalty kick that he buried in the upper middle of the net to put the Mountain Hawks ahead 1-0.

 

Bogan was forced to make his first save in the 27th minute on an attempt by Xander Saling and made two more for the rest of the half as the Greyhounds began to pick up the pace and outshoot the Mountain Hawks 4-1, but Lehigh was able to carry its 1-0 lead into halftime.

 

Senior Ben Davis had the first good scoring opportunity of the second half when he got his head on a Luchini corner kick in the 49th minute and Sanchez was barely able to knock it out of play to prevent Lehigh from adding an insurance goal. Senior Ryan Bertrando then had a golden opportunity in the 70th minute when Sanchez was momentarily caught out of the net, but Bertrando’s attempt skirted just wide.

 

 The Lehigh defense didn’t allow Loyola to record a shot in the second half until an attempt from Antony Sare that soared high in the 73rd minute. The Greyhounds only got off one more attempt until time expired and the Mountain Hawks secured the 1-0 victory.  

 

Final shots stood 13-10 in favor of Lehigh and the Mountain Hawks also held a 4-3 corner kick advantage. Bogan finished the game with three saves to secure his sixth shutout of the season, while Sanchez secured five.

 

The Mountain Hawks return to action Tuesday when Lehigh hosts James Madison at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in the final non-league matchup of the season.

 

Like Lehigh men's soccer on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content and team updates.