Sept. 11, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.--The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team (1-0-1) will test its season-opening two-game unbeaten streak against the Navy Midshipmen (2-1-1) Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The match will be the nightcap to the Saint Joseph's women's team (1-2) taking on Lehigh (1-2-1) at 5:00 p.m.
Saint Joseph's vs. Lehigh at 5:00 p.m.
The Hawk women take on Lehigh in the opener of the doubleheader at 5:00 p.m. and look to win their second straight match after defeating Saint Peter's, 3-0, last Friday.
Last Time Out
SJU opened the new Finnesey Field with a scoreless first half, but opened the floodgates with goals by Amanda Morrell, Allie Dowling and Danielle Debernardo.
SJU has scored four goals by four different players including Jen Pfieffer's lone goal in a 2-1 overtime-loss at Saint Mary's (Calif.).
In net, Megan Bastianelli started the first two games at SMC and California before freshman Cara Critchlow took her place between the pipes for the first time in Berkeley. Despite giving up three goals in the second half to the Golden Bears, Critchlow got the start and the shutout against Saint Peter's.
Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Lehigh enters Friday's game coming off a 1-0 defeat to Charleston at the Davidson adidas Classic. Before that, the Mountain Hawks drew Davidson 2-2 in double-overtime.
Before Lehigh took its trip to North Carolina, they hosted Rutgers and Albany, splitting those contests with a 2-1 loss to the Scarlet Knights and a 1-0 win over the Great Danes, respectively.
Like Saint Joseph's, Lehigh has had four different scorers as well, led by Natalie Hojnacki, Ali MacLeod, Emily Means, and Amy Mastromonaco tallying one goal apiece.
In net has been Lauren Mains who boasts a 1.18 GAA, .792 save percentage and one shutout in four starts.
Saint Joseph's vs. Navy at 7:30 p.m.
The Hawk men will take on Navy, who is coming into Philadelphia with a two-game winning streak, capturing the UMBC adidas Classic title last weekend in Baltimore.
Last Time Out
Sophomore defenseman Giacomo DiLisi played hero Tuesday when his header found the back of the net in a 3-2 overtime-victory at Delaware. The victory gives coach Tom Turner 120 for his career, matching Jack Dunn's record. A win over the Midshipmen would give sole possession of the record.
SJU twice overcame one-goal deficit, while withstanding the Blue Hens' pressure. Sophomore Colin Baker struck first with an early second half goal off a DiLisi cross.
After another UD goal, Baker created more offense when his shot was saved only to rebound to newcomer Sean Canavan, who put the ball away and knot things up at two, midway through the second half.
Bryan Benedict came up strong in net, backing up his shutout performance at Drexel last week with an eight-save showing at Delaware. Benedict boasts a .900 save percentage and 0.88 goals against average.
Navy Midshipmen
The Mids enter Friday's game 2-1-1 following two overtime victories over Adelphi and Lipscomb at the UMBC tournament.
That tournament followed a disappointing 0-1-1 Navy Soccer Classic the weekend before in Annapolis. A scoreless tie against Saint Francis (N.Y.) was the lone bright spot, while the Midshipmen defense let up a bit in a 4-2 loss against Saint Mary's (Calif.).
Stars for Navy in 2008 have been Chris Marino (two goals, one assist), Mark Garcia (one goal, one assist) and Nolan Grebb (1-1-1, 1.50 GAA, one shutout).
Navy holds a 4-0 all-time record over SJU, last defeating the Hawks 3-1 at the UMBC Tournament in 2003.
