WEST POINT, N.Y. – Despite holding an 11-10 shot and 5-4 shot on goal advantage, the Lehigh men’s soccer team lost a 1-0 battle at Army on Saturday night. The first-place Black Knights, the nation’s leader in shutout percentage, clinched a Patriot League Tournament berth with the win.

“I thought the guys did a really good job of following the game plan we gave them,” said head coach Dean Koski. “Once Army scored the goal we had to chase game, but we put good pressure on Army and created some good opportunities. It’s unfortunate that our lack of ability to score goals continued against one of the league’s best teams.”

Lehigh freshman keeper Jacob Gottwald got the game started in the sixth minute when he saved a shot from Army’s Christian Ollen. The Mountain Hawk defense shut down multiple corner kick opportunities from the Black Knights in the ensuing minutes, while also blocking two Army shots. Junior Matt Schreiner tallied Lehigh’s first shot of the night in the 18th minute, but the ball sailed high. Each team’s offenses remained stagnant until the 44th minute when an Army shot soared high to send the match into halftime in a scoreless draw.

Lehigh’s defense remained strong in the opening minutes of the second half, blocking its third shot of the night in the 49th minute. Freshman Gianfranco Giammatteo rifled off the Mountain Hawks’ first shot on goal in the 52nd minute, but Army keeper Winston Boldt made the save. Army’s Nick Williams converted a deflected pass off a corner kick in the 58th minute to head the ball into the back of the net and give the Black Knights a 1-0 lead.

Lehigh regained momentum in 73rd minute with two shots on goal from freshman Danny Gonzalez and sophomore Jaime Luchini, but Boldt was able to save both. Gottwald made his second save of the night in the 76th minute on a header shot from Army’s Sean Mogan. The Mountain Hawks threatened in the 78th minute when Gonzalez connected with a corner kick to head a shot on goal, but Boldt was able to capture it once again. Three Lehigh shots were fired in the final five minutes of the game, but all were kept out of harm’s way as Army secured its 11th shutout of the season.

Gonzalez and Giammatteo each rifled two shots on goal and three shots total as Gottwald recorded three saves.

The Mountain Hawks will now continue their tough road stretch as they head to Annapolis on Wednesday for a showdown with Navy at 7 p.m. The Mids are currently unbeaten in Patriot League play.

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