Lehigh Dominates Second Half to Win Patriot League Opener

BALTIMORE – For 45 minutes, Lehigh were stuck in first gear. For the next 45, they looked like a team ready to make noise in the Patriot League.

The Mountain Hawks opened conference play with a sharp 2–0 win over Loyola Maryland at Ridley Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon, riding two second-half goals and another assured shutout from junior goalkeeper Anton Kinnunen.

Head coach Dean Koski didn’t sugarcoat the opening stretch.

“I thought we struggled in the first half to be consistent with the way we wanted to play, but we regrouped at halftime and thought we came out in the second half with better intentions,” the Ingrassia Family men’s head soccer coach said. “We did a better job of creating chances in the second half and did a good job defensively of shutting them down.”

At the break, the numbers told the story. Lehigh (1-2-3, 1-0 PL) had managed just two shots to Loyola’s six. Kinnunen already had three saves, the main reason the Greyhounds (1-6, 0-1 PL) went into the locker room still locked at 0-0.

Then the restart changed everything.

Barely three minutes into the second half, Lehigh’s attack finally snapped into focus. Junior Bora Turker, still searching for his first of the season, found it in the 48th minute, finishing after good work from junior Aiden Gonzalez and first-year midfielder Alex Junquera. One incisive move, one clean strike, and the Mountain Hawks had the platform they’d been missing.

The goal jolted Lehigh. The visitors began to press higher, connect passes, and force Loyola to chase. The Greyhounds still carried a threat, but Lehigh’s back line and Kinnunen handled what came their way.

The pressure told again in the 65th minute. Senior Thomas Robertson, already off the mark this year, doubled the advantage with his second goal of the season, giving Lehigh the cushion their second-half play deserved.

“No game has been easy, and I think our guys have learned a lot early on this season,” Koski said. “We had good confidence going into this game and we’ll have a better confidence coming out of it.”

Loyola kept firing. The hosts finished with a 15-10 edge in shots and a 5-2 advantage in corners, pushing to get back into the match. Kinnunen, though, stayed composed. He added one more save after the break to finish with four on the day, securing his third straight shutout and the seventh of his career.

Behind him, the understanding with his defenders continues to grow.

“Our backs and Anton are in sync with each other,” Koski said. “I like our mentality and we’re defending better in the box. And when we need Anton to make a save, he’s been there and he’s been sharp.”

Lehigh walk away with three points, a clean sheet, and something less tangible but just as important: a sense that this group is starting to harden.

They won’t have long to enjoy it. The Patriot League home opener awaits.

Lehigh return to action on Saturday, September 19 at 6 p.m., hosting Army in Bethlehem.

“We’re glad to get three points on the road, but we know that every game is going to be a challenge for us,” Koski said. “We’ve got a big game next weekend against Army at home. They’ve had a good start, so it’ll be a good challenge.”