Lehigh set for PL Championship Game Sunday
BOSTON – Riding three consecutive thrilling 2-1 victories, the Lehigh women's soccer team will play in the program's third Patriot League Championship Game, and first since 2010, on Sunday when the fifth-seeded Mountain Hawks square off against top seed Boston University. Opening kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on the Patriot League Network and Stadium's Over-The-Air channels. Most recently, Lehigh defeated Colgate in the 90th minute on Friday night behind a Sabrina Mertz goal with just 40 seconds remaining.
Freshman Courtney Supp opened the scoring in the 18th minute on a pretty feed from junior Maggie Wadsworth, while senior Clare Severe set up Mertz's goal with a perfect strike to the back post off a corner. The Mountain Hawks are the first-ever team that played in the Patriot League Quarterfinals to advance to the title game. The quarterfinal round was added in 2013 with the addition of Boston University and Loyola to the league. Lehigh is the first team that wasn't a No. 1 or 2 seed to advance to the finals since No. 3 Navy faced No. 4 Army in 2011. The Mountain Hawks are the lowest-ever seed to advance to a championship game.
Lehigh hasn't been playing like a No. 5 seed as of late. The Mountain Hawks have scored 13 goals over their last six games, with five multi-goal games in that stretch. That last time Lehigh has scored multiple goals five times in a six-game stretch was early in 2016 (during nonleague play). It marks the first time in school history the Mountain Hawks have scored multiple goals five times in a six-game stretch vs. Patriot League opponents.
Lehigh has won three straight must-win games, all by 2-1 finals, all on the road and all within an eight-day stretch. The Mountain Hawks advanced to the postseason with a late 2-1 win at Holy Cross before defeating Bucknell with two seconds remaining in double overtime in the Patriot League Quarterfinals, setting the stage for Friday's thriller.
Boston University is 10-7-3 on the season, but a perfect 7-0-2 in league play during the regular season, along with a 3-0 semifinal win over Army West Point Friday. Offensively, Anna Heilferty leads the Terriers in goals (5), assists (6) and points (16). Taylor Kofton owns 10 points (four goals, two assists) while two others have six (two goals, two assists apiece). A pair of goalkeepers have split time in net, led by Morgan Messner who owns a 0.76 goals against average and 0.814 save percentage. Boston University hasn't lost a conference game at home (regular season or postseason) since 2007. That includes its time in the America East and Patriot League.
The Terriers lead the all-time series vs. Lehigh, 4-0-2, with every meeting coming since the Terriers joined the Patriot League in 2013. The Mountain Hawks own a pair of ties – 0-0 last season and 1-1 in 2014.
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