ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Charlie Kriel (Fr., Severna Park, Md.) netted a game-tying goal in the 88th minute to force overtime, but Lehigh responded with a golden goal just over a minute into the first sudden-victory overtime period to secure a 3-2 win over the Navy men's soccer team Saturday at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
With the loss, the Midshipmen fall to 10-3-1 overall with a 4-3-0 Patriot League record, while Lehigh improves to 3-10-2 with a 3-4-0 mark in league play.
"It was a very tough result," said head coach
Tim O'Donohue. "We were out of synch to start, but we played much better as the game went on. It was very disappointing to give up that score in the end, we have to rebound and be resilient."
Navy was led on offense by Kriel and
Cristian Coelho (So., Katy, Texas), who tallied one score apiece, while the trio of
Jason Aoyama (So., Narberth, Pa.),
David Jackson (So., Cypress, Texas) and
Sidney Paris (So., Oakville, Ontario) each recorded an assist.
Rounding out the top-offensive performers for the Midshipmen Saturday was
Jacob Williams (Sr., Millersville, Md.) who placed a match-best six shots, one being on goal.
Goalkeeper
Tyler Fahning (Sr., Victoria, Minn.) faced eight shots while making five saves and allowing three goals.
The Mountain Hawks began their scoring effort early in the contest, as Jack Sarkos netted a pass from Trevor Koski just 23 seconds into the match to give Lehigh a one-score advantage.
The Mids went on the attack following the score, recording each of the next three shot attempts before ultimately converting when Coelho played a pass from Paris and lined a shot from 15 yards out into the top-right hand corner of the net, tying the score at 1-1 in the 15th minute.
Lehigh struck once again in the 32nd minute with Sarkos recording his second goal of the contest on a well-placed feed from Yoni Aidlberg to put the Mountain Hawks back in front by a score.
The Navy back line settled in following the goal, limiting Lehigh to just a single shot attempt through the remaining 13 minutes of the half and defending three corner-kick attempts to hold its deficit at one heading into the intermission.
A defensive battle ensued through the majority of the second half, with the Midshipmen turning away each of the six shots by the Mountain Hawks, including two saves by Fahning in the final eight minutes of regulation.
Lehigh matched the effort of the Mids on defense, rejecting the first eight shots by Navy that included goalkeeper Blake Koski turning away a penalty-kick try by Paris in the 69th minute.
With just three minutes remaining in the match and the Midshipmen pushing for an equalizing score, Kriel headed home a perfectly placed pass from Aoyama to tie the game at 2-2 at the 87:21 mark, ultimately forcing overtime.
Just over one minute into the first sudden-victory overtime period, Lehigh's Perry Kingson lined a shot on goal that was knocked away by Fahning before being corralled by Sarkos who played the rebound into the back of the net for the game-winning score at the 91:05 mark, securing a 3-2 overtime win for the Mountain Hawks.
For the game, Navy held advantages in total shots (18-14) and corner-kick attempts (10-7) while Lehigh edged the Midshipmen in shots on goal (8-5).
PATRIOT LEAGUE STANDINGS UPDATE
At the end of Saturday's Patriot League men's soccer slate, Holy Cross and Loyola are tied for first place in the league standings with 15 points apiece. American is third with 13 points followed by Navy and Army who are tied for fourth with 12 points each. Lafayette rounds out the top-six teams in the standings with 10 points followed by Lehigh (nine points), Bucknell (eight points), Boston (eight points) and Colgate (zero points).
With its 3-0 victory over Colgate on Saturday, Loyola became the first team to clinch a spot in six-team Patriot League Tournament field.
UP NEXT
Navy is set to return to action Oct. 22 as it travels to Philadelphia for a non-conference match against Saint Joseph's. The contest is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.
