BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh men’s soccer team broke a scoreless tie with its first goal of the season, but Drexel responded with two goals in a 10:26 span to hand the Mountain Hawks a tough 2-1 loss on Thursday evening. Freshman Danny Gonzalez scored in the 67th minute off a free kick from senior Ben Wysocki while junior goalkeeper Kevin Motylewski made three saves between the pipes.

 

“We played well at the beginning of the game and I’m pleased that we found a way to score a goal,” said head coach Dean Koski. “The last 15 minutes lacked commitment, discipline and leadership. We need those three things to finish up a game.”

 

Lehigh came out firing with six shots, four on goal, in the first 11 minutes, but Drexel goalie Tyler Afflerbach stood tall. Junior Brian Suchoski posted two of the shots on goal while Gonzalez and senior James Meyerkord had the others.

 

The Dragons finished the first half with five shots and just one on goal, from Nathan Page in the 42nd minute. Lehigh had a pair of golden opportunities late in the first half as sophomore Kyle Chin headed a cross in the 32nd minute that went just wide. Five minutes later, Gonzalez found himself near the top of the box, turned and fired a lefty shot that just missed.

 

Drexel’s Guido Pena was sprung in on goal in the 54th minute. He tried to beat Motylewski low, but the junior came up with his second save of the evening.

 

Lehigh broke the ice and scored its first goal of the season at 66:48. Wysocki made a cross to the left post off a free kick and Gonzalez headed it into the left corner of the goal for his first-career tally and a 1-0 Mountain Hawk advantage.

 

The Dragons wouldn’t go away quietly, tying the score just over 10 minutes later when Mark Donohue took a pass from Adam Arama and found the right corner of the goal to make it 1-1 at 77:14.

 

Drexel took a 2-1 advantage less than four minutes later as Page fired a shot from the top of the box low and inside the left post  at 80:48.

 

With 3:45 left, Lehigh played a cross into the box. It wasn’t handled cleanly, but Afflerbach eventually pounced on it to keep Drexel up 2-1. Lehigh continued to push and in the 89th minute, Meyerkord’s feed to sophomore Jamie Luchini was just out of his reach.

 

Final shots were 15-10 in favor of Lehigh while corners were tied at three. Afflerbach made five saves across Motylewski’s three.

 

Lehigh will remain home for a second straight game as the Mountain Hawks host Yale on Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

Like Lehigh men's soccer on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.