BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A late strike from Aldo Hernandez wasn't enough to complete the comeback as Saint Joseph's men's soccer fell 3-2 to Lehigh in a midweek road matchup.
 
St. Joe's falls to 5-5-3 on the season, while Lehigh improves to 6-4-3.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Making his debut in goal for the Hawks, Xander LaBelle was quickly called into action, producing a double save in the 16th minute to deny the hosts an early lead.
• Just four minutes later, St. Joe's nearly found the opener when Tommaso Rossetto unleashed a long-range strike that slipped through the goalkeeper's hands, struck the post, and rolled along the goal line before being gathered by the Lehigh keeper.
• The breakthrough came in the 28th minute via a set piece. Diego Avelar's right-footed strike deflected off Herman Tveit-Reffsgaard and crashed against the crossbar. Tveit-Reffsgaard reacted quickest to the rebound, heading home his first collegiate goal to put the Crimson and Gray in front.
• Lehigh answered six minutes later, capitalizing on a long throw-in that dropped to the top of the box, where it was driven into the roof of the netting for the equalizer.
• LaBelle made his fourth save of the half with a full-stretch effort late in the stanza, preserving the 1-1 scoreline heading into the break.
• The hosts took a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute with a goal from the penalty spot to open the second half.
• The Hawks responded with a flurry of chances, creating four opportunities in just four minutes following the goal. Sebastian Perez-Gasiba's shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, and a follow-up attempt just 10 seconds later was cleared off the line. Continued pressure saw both Rossetto and Matteo Mazzotta denied again by the keeper, preserving the hosts' advantage.
• Lehigh capitalized after an interchange of possession found a man open from 12 yards out, and the Mountain Hawk forward curled his attempt off the post and into the back of the net to double their lead with just over 16 minutes remaining.
• The Hawks pulled one back late, as Perez-Gasiba curled a free kick into the box. Aldo Hernandez was first to the ball, looping his shot over the onrushing goalkeeper to net his first goal of the season.
• With just a minute left, the Hawks nearly equalized, earning a corner and creating two chances in the final 30 seconds, but were ultimately denied.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Tveit-Reffsgaard scored his first career goal for the Hawks.
• Aldo Hernandez also registered his first career goal while Sebastian collected his third assist of the season.
• The Hawks finished a run of 274 minutes without conceding a goal.
• St. Joe's edged Lehigh 11-10 in shots, both teams finishing with eight shots on goal.
• Xander LaBelle made five saves in his debut.

 
UP NEXT

• St. Joe's return to Atlantic 10 action on Saturday, October 18, hosting Rhode Island on Sweeney Field at 2 p.m.