Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A 103rd minute golden goal from sophomore Grace Correll lifted the Lehigh women's soccer team to a 1-0 double overtime victory over Lafayette on Wednesday evening. Junior Madeline Walsh picked up the assist on the game-winner and senior goalkeeper Ani Nahapetian recorded eight saves for her fifth solo shutout of the season and the Mountain Hawks' sixth overall. With the win, Lehigh improves to 7-6-3 and 2-3-2 in Patriot League play, and moving into a tie for sixth place in the league with Army West Point. The Leopards fall to 7-6-1, 1-5-1 in league play.

"It was an exciting game, a good rivalry game and good Patriot League game," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "The first half was very defensive, so both teams played a little bit safe and got behind the ball. In the second half, things definitely opened up. Both teams had to win, so both wanted to get into the attack. I was very impressed with Lafayette, but it's a great win for us and a great win for the rivalry."
 
After a scoreless game into the second overtime, Lehigh finally broke through in the 103rd minute of play with the golden goal. Taking control by the sideline in her own end, Walsh played a ball far down the sideline to Correll, who corralled the ball, deked around a defender at the top of the box and chipped the ball over the keeper with her left foot into the top left corner of the net. The tally was Correll's second of the season and it gave the Mountain Hawks' their second league victory in dramatic fashion.
 
"It was a great win to move forward and keep our season alive," said Correll. "We really needed this. It was a big win. We had to keep going and keep believing in each other. Keep our heads up and know that a goal is going to come. It took until the second overtime to happen, but we're really happy with the result."
 
A slow start to the game featured just four combined shots in the first half. Lafayette tallied the only shot on goal in the opening half for either side. Freshman Sabrina Mertz managed Lehigh's lone shot of the opening frame, which was subsequently blocked.
 
Coming out of the locker room for the second half, both teams picked up the pace. Lafayette began the half with a chance off the foot of Elizabeth Scoda, but Nahapetian was able to scoop up the low shot to keep the game scoreless.
 
Lehigh countered in the 54th minute when sophomore Amanda Stratton sent a header off a corner kick just wide of the far post. Three minutes later, senior Emily Korber unleashed a shot that went over the keeper, but was blocked in front of the line by a Leopard defender.
 
Lehigh grabbed another key chance when it was presented with six corner kicks within a 3:48 span. Following the last, sophomore Alyssa Riporti registered one of the best scoring chances of the game, sending a shot from point-blank range just wide of the left post.
 
In the 80th minute, Correll grabbed another quality chance, sending a shot from the top of the box just over the top of the bar following Lehigh's 11th corner kick of the second half.
 
Kaelin King countered for Lafayette by unleashing a shot from the right of the box that Nahapetian had to reach and pull down for a huge stop to keep the game scoreless in the 86th minute. That helped send the game to overtime. After a scoreless first overtime which featured just two shots, both by Lafayette, Correll came up big. The sophomore from Bay Head, New Jersey has now scored three of her six career goals against Lafayette, after scoring both of Lehigh's goals in the rivalry matchup last year.
 
For the game, Lehigh outshot Lafayette 14-12, and held a 14-1 advantage in corner kicks, all of which occurred after halftime.
 
The Mountain Hawks will return to the pitch this Saturday when they host Bucknell on Senior Night. Lehigh will honor its seven-member senior class prior to the match, which is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
It's always great to honor the players who have put in the time with our program," said Lambinus. "We typically have great energy that day because the seniors lead us. We have a great class of seven players who lead us in so many different ways. I'm excited that they're going to be able to come out, lead us in a big game that we have to win against a team that is pretty high in the league standings. We're excited. It's our final home game. We need to make sure we recover over the next couple days, prepare and get ourselves ready to play that game."
 
Like Lehigh Women's Soccer on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.

Photos by Brinn McClennan '17

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