BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's soccer team scored three goals in the game's first 19:50, while adding a fourth late in the second half, to cruise past visiting Lafayette 4-1 on Saturday evening at the Ulrich Sports Cmplex. On Senior Night, senior Sabrina Mertz put forth a career performance, posting a career-high five points behind two goals and one assist. Mertz opened the scoring with an assist on freshman Courtney Supp's goal at the 2:01 mark, scored the next two before junior Annika Jansa added her first goal of the season at 82:11. The four goals marked the most Lehigh has scored against Lafayette in school history.
 
"We were on it," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "We had good energy, good intensity and good urgency. I really liked the way we came out of the gate. What I really like was we played well and got an early goal, then we gave one up, but scored again 18 seconds later. That was probably my favorite part of this entire season, scoring that goal and not letting up."
 
The Mountain Hawks' four goals were their most since a 4-0 win over LIU Brooklyn on Aug. 26, 2016. Their three goals in the first half were most in a half since scoring three (also in the first half) at Bucknell on Oct. 22, 2016. Lehigh's 15 shots on goal were its most since recording 16 vs. Holy Cross on Oct. 27, 2012.
 
"[Assistant coach] Lauren Calabrese has really been working with the group up front about creating chances, how to break teams down, how to get good chances and not just shots from distance," said Lambinus. "You could see all the work she's put in with this team and the front group with our shots tonight."
 
The win marks Lehigh's second straight league victory as the Mountain Hawks move into a tie for sixth place in the Patriot League standings at 2-4-0. The top six teams advance to the Patriot League Tournament.
 
"It's great to win this game," said Lambinus. "It was a game we needed to win. It was Lafayette, it was Senior Night. There was a lot of emotion tonight and I thought we did a really good job of harnessing it, playing with passion and just working. Beating Lafayette and scoring four goals against them is great, but we're just happy we scored four goals.
 
The Mountain Hawks had four tremendous scoring chances in the game's first 11 minutes. At the 1:52 mark, junior Kayla Arestivo's hard shot was saved by Lafayette goalkeeper Maggie Pohl, but just moments later, Mertz fed Supp into the box, who converted the goal.
 
In the 10th minute, junior Maggie Wadsworth had another glittering chance, which Pohl stopped. Just moments later, Lafayette put a free kick from just outside the box into the back of the net to even the score at one.
 
However, just 18 seconds later, the Mountain Hawks retook the lead as Jansa found Mertz for her first goal of the evening, giving Lehigh a 2-1 advantage at 10:48. Mertz added her second just 9:02 later, heading a long free kick taken by sophomore Ally Friedman past Pohl to give Lehigh a 3-1 advantage in the 20th minute. The Mountain Hawks went into halftime with an 8-1 edge in shots and 3-1 lead on the scoreboard.
 
Lehigh only increased the pressure in the second, outshooting the Leopards 15-2. The Mountain Hawks added insurance in the 83rd minute as Arestivo found Jansa in the box, who roofed a shot past Pohl to give Lehigh a 4-1 advantage, which proved to be the final.
 
Final shots were 23-3 in favor of Lehigh while the Mountain Hawks held a 4-1 edge in corner kick. Junior Sam Miller made two saves across Pohl, who made 11.
 
Prior to the game, the Mountain Hawks' six seniors were recognized for their contributions to the program. The seniors helped lead Lehigh on the field as Mertz and Clare Severe started, while goalkeeper Lidia Breen entered late in the game. Ashley Maziarz, Jessica Sacco and Kylie Ginsberg round out Lehigh's senior class.
 
"Clare and Sabrina had energy and were running all over the field," said Lambinus. "They were playing at a different level. It's a level we knew they had and I think they just motivated everybody else."
 
The Mountain Hawks return home on Wednesday for their final home game, hosting Bucknell at 7 p.m. on the Patriot League Network.
 
Like Lehigh Women's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.

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