Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's soccer team fell behind early, but scored two of the next three goals to force overtime, where senior Madi Morgan headed home the game-winner to give the Mountain Hawks a big 3-2 victory over Temple on Sunday afternoon. With the win, Lehigh improves to 3-2 on the season while the Owls fall to 4-2. Freshman Amanda Marques and sophomore Adrian Vitello scored Lehigh's other goals while senior goalkeeper Ani Nahapetian made seven saves.
 
"I give a lot of credit to Temple. They are a very good team," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "They put us under a lot of pressure. I thought we stood up to the pressure and found a way to win a game that we haven't been able to win much in the past. It was good to come away with one in overtime."
 
Temple, who entered Sunday's matchup outscoring its opponents 15-3 over its four games, quickly took a 1-0 at the 3:41 mark on a rebound attempt after Nahapetian's initial save.
 
Lehigh responded with the game's next two shots and corner kicks, but couldn't convert. The Mountain Hawks evened the score in the 32nd minute as a pair of freshmen connected. Marques headed a Clare Severe cross into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
 
Vitello gave the Mountain Hawks a 2-1 advantage just over one minute into the second half. The goal at the 46:02 mark was assisted from another freshman, Sabrina Mertz. Temple evened the score 10:04 later off a series of headers, which led to a Kelly Farrell touch past Nahapetian to make it 2-2.
 
The Owls head several opportunities down the stretch of regulation to take a lead, but Nahapetian stood tall, making five of her saves over the final 25:29 to help force overtime.
 
"Two of Ani's saves were outstanding. She also made a really good catch in traffic when she came out and commanded the box," said Lambinus. "She was a presence back there and saved us after we were not playing our best after the second goal. We turned it on a bit over the last few minutes of regulation and had a couple chances, but without Ani, I don't know if we win that game."
 
In the extra session, Lehigh made the most of its first opportunity as a corner kick led to Morgan's golden goal off a header. Severe played a great ball off the corner kick and junior Laura Courtney redirected to Morgan, who did the rest. Lehigh improves to 1-1 in overtime this season.
 
Final shots were 17-7 in favor of Temple while the Owls held a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Nahapetian made seven saves, while all three of Lehigh's shots on goal found the back of the net. The Mountain Hawks scored as many goals on Sunday as the Owls had allowed over their first five games of the season (450 minutes).
 
"We still hit the crossbar and the post once," said Lambinus. "We created a number of really good chances. I'm happy we were able to finish on three of them. Two were set piece goals that we've been working on."
 
Following four straight road games, the Mountain Hawks return home for their next four contests, beginning with two next weekend. Lehigh hosts Monmouth on Friday at 7 p.m. before welcoming Saint Joseph's on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
"We learned a lot about ourselves over the last four games on the road, three on turf against very good teams," said Lambinus. "It'll be good to get a week of training and get back on our home field. We're playing two really good teams who will put us under pressure. I wouldn't be surprised if they (Monmouth and Saint Joseph's) win their leagues. We love playing these [challenging] games, but we love winning them even more. Hopefully, this gives us belief and confidence so we enter Patriot League play ready to go."
 
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