BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women’s soccer team bounced back from a mini losing streak in a big way as freshman Sophie Mayeux scored her first-career goal in overtime to give the Mountain Hawks (4-5-1) a 1-0 win over Columbia on a chilly Monday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The win marks Lehigh’s first over the Lions since 1993 and is its first overtime victory since defeating Marist last September.

 

“We got through with hard work and doing the tough things,” said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. “We have to battle every minute of every game and we did that tonight. We withheld the pressure and were patient with our attacks to create good scoring chances.”

 

Mayeux becomes the second Mountain Hawk freshman to score a goal this season, along with Darby Wiegand, while four have recorded points; freshmen Elizabeth Begman and Jordan Goodwin have dished out assists.

 

Nearing 100 minutes of scoreless action, Mayeux corralled a loose ball in the box after a Columbia turnover. She fired a low shot, which deflected off both a defender, then goalkeeper Lillian Klein and inside the left post at 97:42.

 

“Hard work and persistence pays off,” said Lambinus. “We put them under pressure and took advantage of a mistake.”

 

The teams played even through regulation as Lehigh had eight shots to Columbia’s six. Both Klein and Lehigh goalkeeper Ashley Blanks stood tall in goal, each making a pair of saves. That led to the overtime heroics.

 

Lehigh led the final shot count, 10-7, while Columbia held the edge in corner kicks, 6-3. Mountain Hawk defenders Hannah Cochran and Heather Camperson stepped in for a depleted backfield and impressed, holding a Columbia squad that had scored five goals in its last three games scoreless.

 

“We just challenged the team to be accountable and get back to the things that have made us successful,” said Lambinus. “This is one of the first times we fought through adversity and came out ahead. A number of girls got an opportunity and took advantage of it.”

 

The Mountain Hawks continue their six-game homestand on Friday when they host American at 7 p.m. Lehigh remains home on Sunday to welcome Navy for a 1 p.m. kickoff.