BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men's soccer team used a pair of first half goals and an insurance tally in the second half to pick up a 3-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in Friday night's season opener at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Freshmen Donovan Perayeff and Alex Greene each scored for the Mountain Hawks in their collegiate debuts, along with sophomore Doyle Tuvesson. Jamie Luchini, Danny Gonzalez and Mark Forrest each added assists in the win for Lehigh, while goalkeeper Jacob Gottwald made three saves in net for his second career shutout. With the win, Lehigh picks up a win on opening day for the second consecutive season, while Fairleigh Dickinson falls to 0-1.

"This was a good start," said head coach Dean Koski. "Anytime you can score three goals and get a shutout against a good team is great. I thought they played well. We were sloppy at times and we have a lot to work on, but that's expected this early in the season."

The Mountain Hawks struck quickly, as Perayeff got the team on the board in the 12th minute on a shot from just outside the six yard box. Luchini played a ball in towards the box, and Perayeff spun and buried the shot in the lower left corner to put Lehigh up 1-0.

Lehigh kept the pressure on and nearly put another tally on the board just over three minutes later. Perayeff sent a crossing pass into the box, but Austin Decker just missed getting all of it and was denied by FDU goalkeeper Matthew Weigner.

Late in the 25th minute, Tuvesson tacked on the Mountain Hawks' second goal, taking a pass from Danny Gonzalez in the offensive end, before breaking-in clean and sending the ball under the keeper and into the goal for his first marker of the season.

Lehigh controlled the tempo throughout the first half, outshooting the Knights 6-0 in the opening frame, putting five of those shots on goal to carry a 2-0 lead into halftime.

FDU grabbed the first scoring chance of the second half in the 57th minute, when Sam Durkot was awarded a free kick from just outside the middle of the box. His blast deflected off a Lehigh defender, before being knocked over the top of the bar by a leaping Gottwald for a key save.

Moments later, Luchini countered for Lehigh, just missing on a shot that flew just past the right post.

Sophomore Jack Miskel looked to add to the Lehigh lead in the 76th minute, but his one timer was denied by a leaping save saved from in close, and Forrest set a header on the ensuing corner kick over the bar.

Moments after the pair of Mountain Hawk scoring chances, Alex Greene gave Lehigh some insurance at the 77:16 mark, sending one into the bottom right corner off a crossing pass from Forrest to make it a 3-0 lead.

"I think we have some freshmen that can score and some freshmen that can really play," said Koski. "Throughout the season they're going to have their moments where they can shine and help us."

Lehigh returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. as the Mountain Hawks welcome ACC opponent Pittsburgh to the Ulrich Sports Complex. The game will be broadcast on the Patriot League Network. 

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

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Men's NCAA Tournament First Round Recap

Men's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

TeamRank Presented By TeamSnap - Boys