POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - After falling into an early hole, the Lehigh women’s soccer team nearly came all the way back, but was unable to net the tying goal, in a 2-1 loss at Marist on Sunday. The Mountain Hawks (1-2-1) outshot the Red Foxes, 7-3, in the second half, getting a goal from senior Hannah Cochran, but it wasn’t enough. Lehigh continues its five-game road swing next week at Quinnipiac (Friday) and NJIT (Sunday).

 

“When we play with urgency and intensity, we’re a pretty good team,” said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. “Unfortunately, we haven’t done that in the first half yet [this season]. We have to figure out a way to play better if we’re going to beat anyone.”

 

For the second time in three days, the Mountain Hawks allowed an early goal. On Sunday, it was Marist’s Amanda Epstein who found the back of the net only 1:40 into the game. Kylee McIntosh made a cross to Epstein, who finished the shot from approximately eight yards out.

 

Marist continued to control play in the first, outshooting Lehigh, 4-2, in the first 45 minutes. The Red Foxes converted their second goal at 35:20 when Jackie Frey headed in a long free kick to make it 2-0.

 

“There were parts in the first half when we improved slightly, but didn’t ultimately improve until the second half,” said Lambinus. “We had a conversation on what we had to do better. I thought the whole second half was much better.”

 

The Mountain Hawks picked up play in the second, finishing with seven shots (five on goal) while forcing the combination of Caitlin Landsman and Andrea Wicks to make four second-half saves in goal. Lehigh was able to convert a chance off a corner kick when senior Ali MacLeod laid the ball off to Cochran, who hammered a shot off the post before crossing the goal line. The goal came at 80:55, marking the first-career goal for the senior defender.

 

Lehigh was able to get one more shot off in hopes of tying the score, but sophomore Murphee Greeley’s attempt in the 89th minute was stopped by Wicks to end any hope of forcing overtime.

 

The Mountain Hawks led the final shot count, 9-7, including a 7-3 advantage in the second. The teams were even with two corner kicks apiece. Freshman Ashley Blanks made two saves in goal across a pair of Marist netminders, who combined for six. Caitlin Landsman made three without allowing a goal while Wicks came in to make three saves as well.

 

Lehigh returns to action on Friday when it travels to Quinnipiac for a 4 p.m. kickoff. The Mountain Hawks then head to NJIT on Sunday to face the Highlanders at 1 p.m.