Lehigh hosts Bucknell Friday
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's soccer team will host rival Bucknell on Friday night in a big early-season league matchup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Ulrich Sports Complex and will be aired on the Patriot League Network. The Mountain Hawks will then travel to Philadelphia on Sunday for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Penn.
Lehigh is coming off a hard fought 1-0 loss to La Salle on Monday while Bucknell fell to Army last time out in a double-overtime battle. The Bison stand at 3-6-0 on the season. Both Lehigh and Bucknell stand at 0-1-0 in league play.
The defense put up another strong showing in Monday's game against La Salle, holding the high-powered Explorers offense to a single goal. The goal came a minute into the second half behind an Erin Mulhern strike from 15 yards away.
Despite being outshot 30-11, shots on goal stood at 7-5 as the Mountain Hawks had their fair share of chances. Lehigh was unable to find the back of the net for the second straight game after dropping a 1-0 final at American last Saturday in the Patriot League opener.
Senior Murphee Greeley leads the team in shots (15) while junior Darby Dustman leads the way in goals (2) and points (4).
The Bison are led by senior forward Chelsey Garkowski and junior defender Courtney Nelson. Garkowski leads the team in shots (28), points (6) and goals (3) while Nelson is tied for second in assists (2) and stands second in points (4) and shots (17). Sophomore Jessie Ashworth has started all nine games in goal for Bucknell, boasting a 1.73 GAA behind 59 saves and a 79.7 save percentage. The Bison are averaging one goal per game with opponents averaging 1.89.
Bucknell leads the all-time series 12-10-1, but the Mountain Hawks took last season's meeting in double overtime. It marked the first of three straight Lehigh wins to close the regular season, earning the #4 seed in the Patriot League Tournament.
On Sunday, the Mountain Hawks will face Penn out of the Ivy League, who enter the weekend 4-0-2. The Quakers are coming off a 2-2 tie to Old Dominion, but will travel to Harvard on Friday to take on the Crimson before hosting Lehigh.
Penn is led by senior Kerry Scalora who leads the team in shots (15), goals (3), points (8), and is tied for the lead in assists (2). Sophomore goalkeeper Kalijah Terrilli has been strong in net, giving up just two goals in six games thus far.
The Quakers lead the all-time series, 13-1-0. Lehigh lost the last matchup in 2011 by a 3-0 final
Following the weekend, Lehigh returns home to take on archrival Lafayette on Wednesday night.
Like Lehigh Women's Soccer on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive team updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Story by Connor Cackovic, '14
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