Towson comes back to down Lehigh in 2OT
TOWSON, Md. – In a back-and-forth game which saw 43 combined shots, Towson came back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to down the Lehigh women's soccer team, 2-1 in double overtime on Wednesday. Junior Kayla Arestivoscored her second goal of the season in the 21st minute, but the Mountain Hawks were held without a goal the rest of the way despite a number of glittering scoring chances. Sophomore Miranda Royds made a career-high 11 saves in goal, but couldn't stop the Tigers' chance in the 104th minute.
"Right now, we're just not tough enough to play an entire 90 minutes," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "We have really good moments and then we have some moments when we just don't play at the same level. We have to increase our communication, we have to increase our want and our desire and our toughness. Once we're able to figure that out, which I think we will, we'll be a tough team to beat. But right now, we're giving away too many results."
Wednesday marked Lehigh's final nonleague contest before Patriot League play opens on Saturday at home vs. Army West Point. The Mountain Hawks currently stand 3-4-0 on the season.
"I thought throughout the game, we were probably the better team 18-to-18, but they were the better team in both boxes and that makes a difference," said Lambinus. "We have to learn to play with a different level of intensity in both of those areas."
The Mountain Hawks came out with the game's first four shots and two corner kicks, all coming in the first 11:21. However, it was Lehigh's first shot on goal, which found the back of the net. From her defensive half of the field, senior Sabrina Mertz made a feed to Arestivo around midfield. Thee junior carried all the way towards goal and from just over 20 yards out, fired a rocket into the top left corner of the net to give Lehigh a 1-0 lead at the 20:26 mark.
"Sidonie gave us good energy, she worked hard and gave us a little bit of bite, which was good and was what we needed at that point," said Lambinus. "She came in at a time in the second half when we needed that."
The only shot of overtime found the back of the net as Renee Gast headed home the game-winner at the 103:11 mark.
Final shots were 23-21 in favor of Towson while the Mountain Hawks held an 8-3 edge in corner kicks. Royds finished with 11 saves while Collins tallied six.
Lehigh will return home this Saturday to host Army in its Patriot League opener. Opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
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