BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's soccer team outshot visiting Loyola 20-3 after halftime, including a number of glittering chances, but the Mountain Hawks couldn't put one home in a scoreless draw on Friday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The tie sends Loyola to the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the South Division. The Mountain Hawks end the spring, 2021 season with a 1-2-3 record, 1-1-2 in the South.
 
"I walk off this field thinking that we're one of the best teams in the league," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "I know we're not in the postseason – I get it – but there's no doubt in my mind that we could win a championship. We ask the team continually to keep working and keep getting better as this period of time goes and I thought tonight was the best game we've played all year. I actually think it was one of the better games we've played in two years. But soccer is just that game."
 
Early on, the Mountain Hawks had perhaps their best chance of the night. Senior Grace Forsyth's header of a centering feed looked ticketed for the back of the net, but Loyola defender Lois Edwards made the team save. The rebound went to Forsyth, who fired a rebound, but Edwards again was there to make the stop.
 
In the end, Lehigh created six corner kicks to Loyola's none in the first half, but the shots were even at 6-6 with each goalkeeper making three saves.
 
The Mountain Hawks took over after halftime, outshooting the Greyhounds 13-2 in the second half. Sophomore Julianna Bonner fired five second-half shots by herself, including two on goal. One came in the 71st minute as sophomore Ryelle Shuey deflected the ball back towards the box, but Loyola goalkeeper Paige Sim came out strong for the aggressive stop.
 
Senior Miranda Royds' only second-half save was a beauty, coming off in the 82nd minute off a corner kick as Loyola created three consecutive corners.
 
The Mountain Hawks were able to fire seven shots over the two overtime periods, but only two on goal as the game ended scoreless.
 
Final shots were 26-9 in favor of Lehigh while the Mountain Hawks held an 8-3 edge in corner kicks. Royds finished with five saves across Sim, who made eight.
 
"Our seniors were great tonight," said Lambinus. "We had great energy throughout. Everyone who stepped on the field gave us something. We were better today than we were in our first game. At some point, we'll compete for a championship. I really think we can. I think we're a quality team. We have a lot of depth; we have some players who didn't play as much who can also play as well. I'm proud of them."
 
The Mountain Hawks hope the improvement throughout the fall will only help moving into the traditional fall, 2021 season, which is right around the corner.
 
"Our junior class has to take the lead of our seniors," said Lambinus. "I leave here really disappointed because I think we should still be playing. Everybody wants to play more. We got better and better and better, but just couldn't put one in."
 
Like Lehigh Women's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
 

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