Next game:
Vermont
08/29/2021 | 12 o’clock
ESPN +
BRONX, NY – It wasn’t the start of the season she was hoping for when the Men of Lehigh soccer team crashed 1-0 against Manhattan at Gaelic Park on Friday night.
An own goal in the 17th minute cost the Mountain Hawks (0-1) the win when a defender knocked the ball back to the goalkeeper while trying to play the ball. Despite a brave performance by the Lehigh defense and Noah Sutherland in the net, the Jaspers (1-0) defense prevailed and kept the win with a goal.
The story of the night was Manhattan’s aggressive defense, which led the way at 21-6 fouls. The approach stopped any kind of momentum from the Lehigh side and was unable to get much going in the last 75 minutes of action.
“I thought we probably did pretty well in the first 15 minutes,” said Dean Koski, head coach of the Ingrassia Family. “Then I thought their fouling was bothering us for the rest of the game. We couldn’t get anything going with their 21 fouls. It’s really hard to build any kind of rhythm or momentum and our players were certainly a little frustrated with us every time we wanted to do something we fouled.
“They were strategic about it. I know they are not like that [Manhattan] They want to play and their head coach apologized afterwards, but it’s difficult to get out on the streets and play. We didn’t do it well. We had chances early on that we didn’t take well and that caught up with us. “
Manhattan led in shots, 10-9, while shots on goal tied with three.
Two of Lehigh’s best chances in the game came in the first 14 minutes when Josh Luchini gave Patrick Adams a ball in the penalty area that just missed the top in the eighth minute. Luchini had blocked a shot from Jasper-Keeper in the 14th minute and could not end the game to 1-1.
The Mountain Hawks’ next two best chances came in the 62nd and 64th minutes, when Bratislav Petkovic missed the lower center and Austen Carranza parried his shot in the same place.
Noah Sutherland made a total of three saves, including an important one in the 82nd minute, and kept the score 1-0.
“Noah did great there,” said Koski. “He’s got experience, he makes saves that he had to make. I think he’s eager to come out and find ways so we can win. We definitely need that from him, he’ll be really good for all year round be us. “
Luchini and Petkovic led with two shots each, while five others scored one each.
Lehigh returns to the Ulrich Sports Complex on Sunday and scores at noon in the home opener against Vermont. This game is streamed live on ESPN +.
“We haven’t spent much time exploring Vermont, but we’ll discuss everything with the team tomorrow,” said Koski. “We still have to worry about ourselves and try to get better at the things we need to get better at. Vermont will be good, but at this stage of the year we have to focus on Lehigh and what we’re doing have to.” .
“We are also looking forward to our first home game. I am sure that the boys are looking forward to a home game against Ulrich. We are ready to put on more games. We have to get well, we have one today little injured, some injuries. So if we’re healthy we’ll move on. “
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