BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's soccer team will travel to Hamilton, New York this weekend to take on first-place Colgate as the Mountain Hawks look to take one step closer to the Patriot League Tournament. Opening kickoff on Saturday is set for 7 p.m. Lehigh is coming off its first league loss of the season on Wednesday, falling to Navy by a 2-0 final. The game was much closer than the score indicated as both Navy goals came directly off corner kicks and the Mountain Hawks owned several quality scoring chances themselves.
 
With two Patriot League games remaining, Lehigh stands in a fifth-place tie (with Bucknell), owning 10 points - two points ahead of Loyola in seventh. The Mountain Hawks and Bison are only two points behind Army in fifth. Colgate and Navy are tied for first, owning identical 5-1-1 records and 16 points. Lehigh holds an overall record of 4-4-5 and can clinch a Patriot League Tournament berth as early as this weekend with a win over Colgate and Loyola loss or tie against Navy (Sunday).
 
The Mountain Hawks have struggled offensively as of late, but it hasn't been for a lack of chances. On Wednesday, Lehigh fired five shots on goal, three from freshman Grace Correll. Last Saturday, the Mountain Hawks had four shots on goal and some of their best opportunities didn't even result in shots on target.
 
Lehigh's defense has continued to impress as the two goals allowed Wednesday were a season high. Despite that, the Mountain Hawks have still allowed just four goals through seven league games. Junior goalie Ani Nahapetian was stellar against Navy, making eight saves to improve her season save percentage to .886 while her goals against average stands at 0.52.
 
The Raiders have been extremely tough to beat this season as they own an 11-2-2 record and have received recognition in some national polls. Coming off a 2-0 mid-week loss at Boston University, Colgate returns home where it's an impressive 6-0-2 this season. Sarah Coy has led a Raiders' offense that's scored 24 goals through 15 games. She owns 17 points behind eight goals and one assist. Coy is followed by Catherine Williams with nine points (three goals, three assists), Emily Crichlow with eight (three goals, two assists) and Caroline Brawner and Eliza Doll with seven apiece (two goals, three assists). Brenna Mason has started 14 games in goal, owning a strong 0.63 GAA and .886 save percentage.
 
The Raiders lead the all-time series, 16-7-1, but Lehigh has won three of the last five meetings. This marks the first meeting at Colgate since 2011 as the Mountain Hawks beat the eventual league champion Raiders in 2012 (1-0) as part of their late-season charge into the Patriot League Tournament, before falling 1-0 last season. The last game at Colgate resulted in a slim 2-1 defeat on Oct. 23, 2011.
 
After Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home on Tuesday to host Penn at 7 p.m. Lehigh will then wrap up the regular season at Holy Cross next Saturday (Nov. 2).
 
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