BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's soccer team outshot Navy 11-5 in the second half in a dominant effort, but it wasn't enough as the Midshipmen scored a goal in each half to down the Mountain Hawks, 2-0 on Saturday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Lehigh controlled possession against first-place Navy and despite putting nine shots on goal, couldn't beat Mids' goalkeeper Sydney Fortson. The loss is the Mountain Hawks' fifth straight, coming by a total of six goals.
 
"We talked from the beginning of the year about getting better every game," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "If you took out the goal scoring and results, you'd see how much better we are. I sound like a broken record, but I think it's going to come. They're doing all the right things; they're just not getting the results.
 
"And you know what? That's life sometimes," Lambinus continued. "I said to the team after the game, if this is the worst thing that happens to them – to be a really good soccer team who works their butts off and doesn't get results – they're going to have a pretty good life. It says a lot about the character of this group that even without getting the results, they keep fighting. We went four games not scoring a goal and the last half was literally the best we've played, and with the most energy. A lot of teams would quit, but they haven't. That says a lot about the character of the team and the relationship they have with each other."
 
Lehigh tallied three of the game's first four shots, but it was Navy's second shot that found the back of the goal. In the 27th minute, Karli Sottung finished a tough-angle shot from the corner of the box, giving the Mids a 1-0 lead.
 
Later in the half, Navy recorded four straight shots, but none was on goal. Late in the stanza, Lehigh freshman Erin Keefe's header was stopped by Navy goalkeeper Sydney Fortson to keep her team in front 1-0 following 45 minutes of play.
 
Lehigh came out with six of the first eight second-half shots, with its best chance coming in the 62nd minute. Senior Clare Severe's initial shot was stopped by Fortson, then Mertz got a quick touch on the rebound, but Fortson made that save as well.
 
The Mountain Hawks went on to post five more shots, two on goal, but Sottung added her second of the game in the 81st minute to give Navy the 2-0 victory.
 
Final shots were 16-11 in favor of Lehigh while the Mountain Hawks held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Sophomore Miranda Royds and junior Sam Miller each played a half, each making one save.
 
The Mountain Hawks will return to action next Saturday (Oct. 6) at American. Opening kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

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