BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Navy women's soccer team won its fifth straight game and improved to 4-0 in the Patriot League on the strength of a career-best outing by senior captain Karli Sottung (Westfield, N.J.) on Saturday night at Lehigh. Ranging up into the attack as a forward on numerous occasions, Sottung netted both of the Mids' (7-3-3, 4-0 PL) goals as they defeated the Mountain Hawks (3-8, 0-4 PL) by the score of 2-0 at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
 
"We got two great goals by Karli," exclaimed head coach Carin Gabarra. "Playing our third game in eight days required us to vary our looks up a bit and we slotted Karli up top at different points and she made those moments count. Our defense was solid and battled throughout to earn that shutout. They bent in a few spots, but most importantly, they didn't break."
 
The game saw both teams have a nearly equal share of scoring opportunities in the first half. Over the opening 45 minutes of play, Navy recorded six shots versus five for Lehigh. While four of the Mountain Hawks' shots were on goal, the Mids' junior goalkeeper Sydney Fortson (Claremont, Calif.) was up to the task with saves on all four attempts. After Navy's initial shot on goal was saved, Sottung made her squad's second shot count in the 27^th minute. On the receiving end of a Regan McQuain (Jr., Lafayette, Calif.) pass into the box, Sottung put a well-placed shot into the upper-90 from a tough angle to break the stalemate. 
 
Lehigh looked for the equalizer less than three minutes later when Annika Jansa lined up a free position shot on goal from just outside the 18-yard box, that Fortson handled with ease.
 
Coming out of halftime up 1-0, Navy had to withstand an offensive blitz by Lehigh that saw the hosts tally six shots in the opening 17 minutes. In the 62nd minute, Fortson's number was called again as she made a pair of saves in quick succession. After she stopped Clare Severe's initial shot, Sabrina Mertz unsuccessfully tried to stuff home the rebound.
 
Navy continued looking for an insurance goal as Alex Jackson (Jr., Centennial, Colo.) put a dangerous volley just over the frame in the 64^th minute as she was on the receiving end of an Eleanor Pratt (Sr., New Orleans, La.) corner kick.
 
The pressure by Lehigh continued as the clock moved under 20 minutes remaining and as such Fortson continued to prove impenetrable. In the 73^rd minute, Kayla Arestivo tested Fortson from distance and forced the Mids' keeper to dive to her right.
 
The Mids finally gained a buffer with the Mountain Hawks as tight defending by Sottung near midfield in the 81^st minute resulted in a turnover and breakaway for the senior team captain. Taking it in unabated for the final 30 yards, Sottung drew a dive from Lehigh's goalie, Sam Miller, where she dribbled around the outstretched arms of Miller and put the ball into the gaping net.
 
In the 2-0 victory, Navy was outshot by Lehigh, 16-11. The Mountain Hawks also led the Mids in shots on goal, 9-4 and in corner kicks, 4-3.
 
Fortson made a season-high nine saves in her sixth shutout of 2018.
 
Saturday's win was the third victory for Navy since last Friday. In the Patriot League standings, Navy continues to sit atop the table with an unblemished 4-0 mark (12 points). Boston University stands in second at 3-0-1 (10 points), while Bucknell is third at 3-1 (9 points).
 
"Going 3-0 over this past eight days is a great accomplishment, though what's even better is that we got a lot of important contributions from a lot of different players," exclaimed Gabarra. "That depth and experience will be key as we continue with league play." 
 
Navy will next be in action next Friday night at Boston University. Kickoff between the top-two teams in the Patriot League is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.