Friday (vs. Villanova): Watch Live (PLN) | Live Stats | Sunday (at St. John’s): Watch Live (ESPN3) | Live Stats

 

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women’s soccer team will look to bounce back from a tough weekend when it hosts Villanova on Friday before traveling to St. John’s on Sunday in the final nonleague tune-ups before the Patriot League opener. Kickoffs for both games are set for 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss at Delaware, one game after dropping a slim 1-0 final to Towson. Lehigh currently stands 2-2-1 on the season.

 

Friday’s game can be seen live through the Patriot League Network while Sunday’s contest will be broadcast on ESPN3. Heading into Friday’s matchup, the Mountain Hawks have won seven straight games vs. Philadelphia area schools (beating Penn and Temple this season, Villanova and Temple last season and Penn, Saint Joseph’s and Temple in 2015).

 

In this past Sunday’s contest at Delaware, senior Amanda Stratton scored her first-career goal in the 51st minute to give the Mountain Hawks a 1-0 advantage. However, the Blue Hens scored goals in the 74th and 104th minutes to come out victorious. It marked the second straight Sunday Lehigh played in double overtime after winning the previous Sunday at Temple by the same 2-1 final.

 

So far this season, Lehigh has scored at least one goal in every road game (four goals in three games), but hasn’t yet scored at home. The Mountain Hawks were close on numerous occasions last Thursday vs. Towson, but Tigers’ goalkeeper Taylor Sebolao made nine saves for the shutout.

 

Villanova is 3-2-0 on the season, most recently picking up a 5-0 win over Lafayette. The Wildcats also own wins over Saint Joseph’s (1-0) and Delaware (3-2 in overtime) while falling at James Madison (3-1) and vs. Princeton (2-0). A trio of Villanova players – Jasmine Ruiz, Emily Kuefler and Amanda Vocelka – lead the team with five points behind two goals and an assist. Vocelka and Kuefler were named Big East Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively following their efforts vs. Saint Joe’s and Lafayette. Emily Harris has played every minute in goal, recording a 1.20 goals against average and 0.727 save percentage.

 

Villanova leads the all-time series with Lehigh, 6-2-2. The Mountain Hawks are 1-0-1 over the past two meetings, earning a 1-1 tie in 2014 and winning 2-0 at Villanova last season. Current senior Adrian Vitello and sophomore Maggie Wadsworth scored Lehigh’s goals while sophomore Sam Miller recorded a nine-save shutout.

 

St. John’s enters the weekend 3-1-1, beating Marist (2-1), Fairfield (2-0) and UConn (1-0) while falling to Harvard (1-0 in double overtime) and tying La Salle (3-3). The Red Storm also host Loyola (Md.) this coming Friday night. Christina Bellero leads St. John’s in goals (4) and points (9) while four other Red Storm have scored a single goal. Jordan Kamp has seen the majority of time in goal, tallying a 1.14 GAA and 0.773 save percentage. Freshman Antonia Tammaro made her collegiate debut vs. Fairfield,  played all 90 minutes and tallying a four-save shutout.

 

Sunday will mark the first-ever meeting between Lehigh and St. John’s.

 

Following this weekend, Lehigh will enter Patriot League play on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Army West Point. Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Like Lehigh Women's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.