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BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania – After a competitive 1-0 loss at Monmouth on Friday, the Lehigh women’s soccer team returns to a busy schedule for the first time since 2019, with multiple games in a week. The Mountain Hawks travel for a 7pm opening kick on Thursday (in a game originally scheduled for 6pm) before returning home for the home opener against Siena on Sunday. The game against the Saints is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. after the Lehigh men’s soccer team receives Vermont at noon.
At the home game on Sunday, the section at the northern end of the grandstand is marked with distance signs for all spectators who prefer seats by far. More information on Lehigh Athletics’ COVID-19 security measures can be found here.
There were several momentum shifts at the season opener last Friday, with each side controlling the game. Lehigh was eliminated 8-4 in the first half, but the Mountain Hawks held a 4-1 cross when shooting on goal. Monmouth scored the only goal of the game in the 81st minute and Lehigh had late chances by scoring three shots and two corners over the last 1:24 of the game victory.
In the last six games of the series Lehigh is 1-1-4 against Monmouth. Friday included Monmouth’s first goal against Lehigh in 530:35 game action – especially impressive for the Mountain Hawks’ defense, considering that Monmouth is an eternal MAAC force.
Lehigh watched two goalkeepers make their college debuts as freshman Abby Trainor played the first half, stopping the only shot that got in her way. Second year Violette Bonvallet saw more action in the second half, scoring three saves, including two spectacular close-range stops. It allowed the only goal of the game, but it came after a perfectly placed shot from a free kick.
Drexel completed a 3-4-1 campaign last spring, 1-2-1 in the CAA. The last full season, the Dragons were 5-11-3, 1-7-1 in conference in 2019. Drexel is 0: 1-0 in the young season after a 1: 2 defeat in extra time in Villanova last Thursday. Gabrielle Perrotto scored her first career goal in the 36th minute, but the Wildcats responded with goals in the 69th and 96th minutes. Villanova finished in shots with a 22-11 cross. Drexel’s Miyuki Schoyen made six saves in the gate.
Lehigh and Drexel last played in 2001, a 1-0 win for Lehigh. Overall, the Mountain Hawks are 3: 1 in the all-time series. The last time the teams played in Philadelphia was in 1999 – a 2-0 win for the Dragons. Lehigh scored nine goals in the very first meeting of the two teams in 1994, which is still a program record today.
The defending champions MAAC Champions, Siena, finished 6-1-2, 4-0-1 in the conference last spring. The Saints, top-seeded in the MAAC tournament, defeated eight-seeded Iona in the quarter-finals (3-0), fourth-seeded rider in the semifinals (2-1) and then third-placed Monmouth in the championship game (before winning the penalty). The Saints currently hold a 2-0 record (ahead of a home game against Vermont on Thursday). Siena won at home against Binghamton (2-0) and at Holy Cross (2-1). Siena’s two crucial goals were scored by Katrina Kurtz (against Binghamton) and Rebecca Rolland (against Holy Cross). Brooke Boermeester played in goal every minute, scoring 0.50 average goals and 92.3 hit rates.
The very first meeting between Lehigh and Siena takes place on Sunday.
Following Sunday’s game, the Mountain Hawks will travel to St. John’s next Thursday (September 2) to kick off the Red Storm at 7 p.m.
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