BETHLEHEM, PA – Lehigh scored off a free kick in the 43rd minute to defeat the Rider University men's soccer team, 1-0, Monday night. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 0-2-0, while the Mountain Hawks improves to 1-0-1.
The Mountain Hawks broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, when Lehigh was awarded a free kick just atop the 18-yard box. Trey Sheeler took the kick, sending it low directly at the Broncs' wall. With the Rider defenders jumping, it snuck below the wall and past a shielded Adam Salama (Ramle, Israel/Orthodox [Ottawa Univ.]) for the 1-0 lead at the half.
Perhaps the Broncs' best chance came in the 57th minute, when William Baker (New York, NY/The Calhoun School [Rutgers]) collected the ball inside the box, but his shot was saved from point-bank range by a charging Lehigh goalkeeper Ryan Gross to preserve the Mountain Hawks' lead.
Notes
- Lehigh extended its lead in the all-time series to 19-15-4, including wins in each of the last three meetings (2017, 2018, 2024).
- Salama made three saves in defeat.
- Salama,
Cole Sotack (Doylestown, PA /Central Bucks East [Rutgers]),
Martin Chladek (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Voderadska [Montevallo]),
Momo Diop (Thies, Senegal/ Prive Serigne Touba),
Andrew Erickson (San Antonio, TX/International School of the Americas [Kentucky]) and
Max Schrader (Cherry Hill, NJ/Scholar Athletes Leadership Academy) each played all 90 minutes.
Broncs By The Numbers
- Lehigh edged the Broncs in shots, 11-10, including a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal.
- Both teams took three corner kicks.
- The Mountain Hawks were cautioned three times to the Broncs' two yellow cards.
-
Jack McGeechan (Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands Regional),
Ezra Punselie (Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands/Zaanlands Lyceum) and
Bryan Akongo (London, England/Harris Academy Orpington [Georgia State/Robert Morris]) took two shots each.
- Erickson and Baker accounted for shots on goal.
Up Next
- The Broncs return to action Thursday, when they travel to Stony Brook. Kickoff from Long Island is scheduled for 6:31 p.m. on FloFC.
