Mid semester fall sports check-in

As the mid point of the semester approaches, The Brown and White recaps the early results for each fall season.

Field Hockey

Lehigh field hockey is 8-3 and 3-0 in the Patriot League. The team’s strong start can be attributed to standouts senior fifth-years Sarah Bonthuis, Lenke Havas and Drew Pecora, who each have over 15 points in the first eight games. Star goalie junior Maddie Kahn is anchoring the defense for the Mountain Hawks, only allowing one goal per game in Patriot League contests, having saved 10 shots and owning a 77 percent save percentage in conference games. The team recently defeated Holy Cross by the widest margin in program history. The Mountain Hawks take on American on Oct. 9 at 11:00 a.m. 

Women’s Soccer

Women’s soccer started their Patriot League season 2-1-1, which puts them in a four-way tie for third place in the Patriot League. After tying Army in their Patriot League opening game, the team defeated Lafayette in Easton and Holy Cross at home before dropping their first game on senior night to Boston University. With their next three matches also coming against Patriot League opponents, the Mountain Hawks look to cement their place among the top of the league during the rest of October. 

Men’s Soccer

Men’s soccer is coming off their best result of the season, tying No. 4 West Virginia 1-1 after a 75th-minute penalty kick by Josh Luchini. Before the contest, the Mountain Hawks won their first league game of the season, defeating Army 2-1. With three of the next four games being against three of the top four teams in the Patriot League standings, the team looks to build on the success from their last two games and move on from their early-season struggles. The Mountain Hawks play Holy Cross on Oct. 10. 

Women’s Cross Country 

The women’s cross country team has been in peak form behind a dominant start to the season from senior Jade Sessions. After coming in third place at the Lehigh Invitational, the women dominated Lafayette in their dual meet and won for the 16th year in a row. The women are coming off of The Paul Short Run, where they were able to place 21st out of 38 teams. The Mountain hawks had five runners finishing within 35 seconds of each other, with Sessions leading the pack. 

Men’s Cross Country

In the opening meet of the year, junior Connor Melko paced Lehigh to a second place finish out of eight teams. Melko was awarded Patriot League Male Runner of the Week for his performance. The team then went on to defeat Lafayette for the 22nd straight year in a dual meet, with Melko and senior fifth-year Seth Slavin finishing first and second in the race. In the 47th Paul Short Run, Lehigh finished 26th out of 40 teams in the Men’s 8k Gold race. 

Football 

Lehigh football has lost 12 straight games, tying the record for the longest losing streak in program history. The team is still searching for their first win. On offense, the team has not been able to string positive plays together resulting in nine  total points on the year and 0 touchdowns. The defense has shown flashes of strong play, but penalties and inability to get teams off the field has resulted in the defense giving up 30 points or more in each game so far. They play Penn on Oct. 9. 

Men’s Golf

Men’s golf has opened the season with two tournaments, the Alex Lagowitz Memorial Invitational and The Doc Gimmler. Junior David Hurly posted a 66 at The Doc Gimmler, which led Lehigh to a team finish with a score of 280, exactly even par. Song led Lehigh in the Alex Lagowitz Memorial Invitational shooting four over par and finishing 15th in the competition. Overall, Lehigh has finished in the middle of the pack for both tournaments, coming in eight out of 15 teams in the Alex Lagowitz Memorial Invitational and ninth  out of 14 in The Doc Gimmler.  

Women’s Golf

The women’s golf team had an exceptional start to their season when they finished in second place out of 11 teams at the Bucknell Invitational. The Mountain Hawks shot 924 over three rounds at Bucknell, only losing to Navy. Freshman Madison Pineda was the top finisher for Lehigh, shooting 228 (74-75-79) and tying for 11th place overall. Lehigh also traveled to Annapolis to play in the Navy Invitational. They placed eighth out of 13 in the tournament. After struggling on the first day of the tournament, the women rebounded and shaved 13 strokes on the second day to garner eighth place. Freshman Madison Pineda led the team for the second straight tournament as she continues to cement herself among the Patriot League elite. 

Volleyball

Volleyball has started their year 2-4 in conference play and 6-11 overall, putting them in seventh place in the Patriot League. The team defeated Bucknell in straight sets on Sept. 26, and defeated Navy in five sets on Oct. 2 at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. It was the first time Lehigh beat Navy since 2017. Standout players freshman Megan Schulte, Sabrina Lancaster, Hannah Wright and Emily Stewart, who each have over 140 points throughout the first 17 games of the season, the team hopes to gain ground in the Patriot League as their next three matches are against American twice and Holy Cross. 

Men’s Rowing

Lehigh men’s rowing had their first meet of the fall season on Oct. 3 at the Intercoastal Waterway in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Lehigh dominated the Stockton Invitational coming in first and second place in the Men’s Varsity Four Race, the Men’s Eight Race and The Men’s Novice Fours. They are currently preparing for their next race against Housatonic on Oct. 9th. 

Women’s Rowing

The women’s rowing had their first meet of the fall season on Oct 3. on the Intracoastal Waterway in New Jersey. Lehigh’s success in the Stockton Invitational was widespread. The Mountain Hawks’ A boat came in first in the Women’s Varsity Four, and their B and C boat came in third and fourth place. The A crew won the Women’s Eights and the B Crew got second place in the Women’s Eight. Women’s rowing looks to build on their amazing start as they prepare for their next race on Oct. 9th.