Women’s Soccer Blanks Lehigh, 2-0

Saturday, October 3

West Point, N.Y.

7 PM

Army West Point

4-7-1, 2-1-1Patriot

Lehigh

4-4-3, 0-2-2Patriot

Lehigh

Army West Point

Women’s Soccer Blanks Lehigh, 2-0

October 03, 2015 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point women's soccer team received a pair of header goals en route to a 2-0 Patriot League victory over Lehigh on Saturday evening at Clinton Field.

The Black Knights improve to 4-7-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the league, while the Mountain Hawks drop to 4-4-3 and 0-2-2.

"I thought it was a real collective team effort," said head coach Marcia McDermott. "I thought everybody contributed. It's one of the better games we've played this year."

Army created the majority of chances in the first half, beginning in the 12th minute, when Clare Shea found space along the left side and sent a shot just wide of the left post. Sam Gottlieb accounted for a shot just 1:12 after Shea's attempt, but her strike was saved by Lehigh goalkeeper Ani Nahapetian.

The Black Knights kept the pressure on and eventually broke through for a goal in the 17th minute when Katie Holder headed home a cross from the right side by Pam Wishart for her fifth marker of the year.

Holder had a hard shot that was blocked by a Lehigh defender in the middle of the 18-yard box in the 30th minute before Samantha Sullenger's attempt hit the crossbar seven seconds later, as the score remained 1-0.

Army owned an 8-3 advantage in shots by the end of the opening half before finishing the match with a margin of 19-6.

The Black Knights came out right where they left off at the end of the first half, as Wishart volleyed a ball into the 18-yard box that Bailey Widman headed on goal before Nahapetian corralled the shot in the 55th minute.

Wishart found her second assist of the contest in the 70th minute, when she fed a left-swinging cross into Lehigh's 18-yard box that Shea headed into the net to double Army's advantage.

"I though Pam Wishart did well," McDermott added. "She was very organized defensively and offensively, her services were of quality, and she did a much better job with possession tonight."

Lehigh had a dangerous scoring opportunity minutes later when Army keeper Jordan Cassalia attempted a play on the ball outside of her net in the 73rd minute. Cassalia misjudged a loose ball in her own 18-yard box before Lehigh's Laura Courtney had a hard shot blocked on the goal line by Black Knight defender Brooke Richardson to keep the hosts' shutout intact.

The Mountain Hawks created additional offensive chances in the 75th and 88th minutes, respectively, with Alyssa Riporti's initial attempt sailing wide of the left post and Sabrina Mertz's strike being swallowed up by Cassalia, who finished the match with four saves and her second shutout of the year.

Army returns to the road to face Princeton in its nonconference finale on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.

Game Notes: Army improves its series lead to 16-6-5 all-time versus Lehigh … the Mountain Hawks entered the game tied for the fewest goals allowed (11) and second in goals (21) among Patriot League teams … Holder netted her fifth goal of the season, while Shea added her second of the year … Wishart added a pair of assists for her first points of the year.