BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Loyola scored off a free kick in the 70th minute, which stood as the difference in the Lehigh women's soccer team's 1-0 loss to the visiting Greyhounds on Saturday afternoon. In the Patriot League opener for both sides, the Mountain Hawks finished with a 10-8 edge in shots, but Loyola impressed for much of the early stages of the second half, which proved to be the difference.
 
"Credit to Loyola for disrupting how we wanted to play," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "We didn't give them enough answers to solve their defensive pressure. I'm disappointed because we've fallen into similar patterns as previous years of not being ready for the urgency of Patriot League games. And since the players change year-to-year, that's on me as the head coach. I still believe in this team and will work with them to find the way to get the best soccer out of them."
 
The first half saw Lehigh hold a 6-5 edge in shots and 4-2 advantage in shots on goal. Junior goalkeeper Miranda Royds made her stops early (16 seconds in) and late (1:03 remaining). In between, four different Mountain Hawks fired shots on goal. Senior Maggie Wadsworth began in the ninth minute with a hard lefty shot, but Loyola goalkeeper Paige Sim was there. Senior Kayla Arestivo added a chance in the 13th minute, while sophomore Rebecca Van Siclen and freshman Chloe Sherman added shots on goal before the half was over.
 
Loyola turned momentum in the second half and its pressure led to the game's only goal. At the 69:36 mark, Hannah Hoefs took a free kick just outside the box and placed a perfect shot into the top corner of the goal, ending the Mountain Hawks' shutout streak at 469:36. It marked the first goal against Lehigh's defense in 20 days.
 
Lehigh turned up the pressure down the stretch, which led to an Arestivo shot on goal and some dangerous chances. Perhaps the Mountain Hawks' best chance wasn't even on goal as off a free kick in the 83rd minute, senior Mary Casey headed the ball towards Arestivo, whose ensuing header sailed just high. That proved to be Lehigh's final shot of the game as it fell in regulation for the first time since the season opener nearly a month ago.
 
Final shots were 10-8 in favor of Lehigh while the Mountain Hawks held a 2-1 edge in corner kicks. Royds finished with three saves across Sim, who made five.

Lehigh returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 28 at archrival Lafayette. Gametime is set for 1 p.m.

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