Lehigh’s Second-Half Offensive Surge Leads to 2-2 Tie With Delaware – Lehigh University Athletics

NEWARK, Del. – A surge of offensive urgency and second-half targets from senior Julianna Bonner and sophomore Corinne Lyght led to a 2-2 tie between Lehigh and Delaware on Thursday night time. The Mountain Hawks outshot the Blue Hens 16-9 to safe their second tie with Delaware in sequence historical past. 

“I feel Delaware’s a brilliant gritty workforce, they’ve some nice gamers, they’re well-coached so getting a tie on the street is a giant deal, particularly taking place twice after which having the ability to struggle again,” mentioned head coach Lauren Calabrese. “We’re happy within the sense that we’re shifting in the best route.”

Delaware took the lead early within the first half with a aim from Raychel Speicher within the twelfth minute. With a 1-0 lead, the Blue Hens continued to place stress on the Lehigh protection, placing up three extra pictures within the first half. 

First-year goalkeeper Maggie Ousouljoglou collected her first save of the sport within the twentieth minute off of a Delaware free kick simply exterior the 18-yard-box. 

The Mountain Hawks switched the tempo of the sport, placing up three pictures within the last ten minutes of the primary half. Junior Wendie Fisher entered the sport for Lehigh, capturing a rocket from exterior the 18 that hit the put up and went proper into the palms of Delaware goalkeeper Mia Reed. 

Lehigh opened up the second half with a surge of aggression on offense. Within the 51st minute, first-year Sophia Lis crossed the ball into the six-yard field, resulting in a header from Bonner to tie the sport at one. 

“Now we have a number of dynamic, attacking personalities so I feel like all workforce it takes time for them to determine what works and to seek out their chemistry,” Calabrese mentioned. “We all know we’re good within the last third and within the air so Bonner, her timing was good. We actually need her to get out and we’re engaged on that, to get her in on the bottom. A extremely nice supply from Sophia.” 

Senior Mattie Murphy launched a shot from simply exterior the 18-yard field within the sixty fourth minute however Delaware’s goalkeeper, Reed made the leaping save to maintain the sport tied at 1-1. Because the second half continued, each groups alternated possession, taking pictures however finally failing to seek out the again of the web. 

With ten minutes left to play, Delaware’s main scorer Sara D’Appolonia scored the Blue Hens second aim of the sport to take the 2-1 lead. 

Down 2-1, Lehigh confirmed no indicators of backing down because the Mountain Hawks continued to stress the Blue Hens offensively. Within the 84th minute, Emma Roesing despatched a cross into the six, from simply exterior the 18. Lyght discovered her approach below the ball, heading it into the again of the web to attain the ultimate aim of the sport and safe the 2-2 tie. 

“We all know Corrine has that capacity and being 12 months two for her, it is not a shock to anybody so I feel she’s a participant that may discover methods to attain and it was an superior aim, nice service by Emma Roesing however I am simply excited for her to proceed to develop and develop,” Calabrese mentioned. 

The Mountain Hawks led the Blue Hens 10-6 in pictures on aim however Delaware’s goalkeeper completed with eight saves in comparison with Ousouljoglou’s 4. 

“We got here out of the sport with 16 pictures and we additionally scored two targets from being down so producing offense and placing the sport away is a extremely vital piece,” mentioned Calabrese. “One other piece that’s critically vital is to proceed to defend as an 11 behind the ball. Not simply the again line however actually emphasizing having our attacking gamers observe again and actually work to win it.” 

Lehigh will journey to Philadelphia to tackle Penn on Sunday. Opening kickoff is scheduled for two p.m. and the sport will likely be streamed on ESPN+.