Bethlehem, Pa. - Lauren Dykstra had three of her five goals in the first half, as Lehigh won for the third time in its last four outings with a 17-14 non-league victory over UAlbany on Monday, April 12 at Frank Banko Field. The Great Danes had their nine-game winning streak halted.
     Lehigh (11-3) snapped a 6-6 deadlock in the first half with three unanswered. Allison Thomas spun to her left shoulder to put her team ahead after collecting a pass from Kelly Draper. Dykstra connected on a shot from the middle of the zone off a left-to-right crossing pass from Megan Kelly. Thomas ended that run by converting from right off the crease after Celia Belmonte found her from behind the cage.
     After the Great Danes sliced the deficit to 9-7, the Mountain Hawks ran off a string of four straight goals. Draper, a sophomore attacker, scored three times in that stretch. The Patriot League's top rookie one year ago netted the first on a free-position shot. She also connected on a spin move in transition after goalkeeper Kelsey Ferris started the break with a save. Draper gave her team a 13-7 lead at break with an inside roll from the left with 15 seconds left in the period.
     The Mountain Hawks moved out to 16-8 advantage in the second half with a three-goal outburst. Dykstra, who earned the Patriot League's offensive player of the year award as a sophomore, converted a left-handed shot and then placed free-position attempt inside the left post to ignite that run. Lauren Murray gave her squad its biggest lead with 19:27 remaining.
     UAlbany (9-2) tallied six of the game's next seven goals, but the Mountain Hawks controlled tempo to thwart a serious comeback. Mel Rorie, a junior midfielder, had two of her career-high four goals in that stretch, while Nikki Branchini scored twice.
     The Mountain Hawks jumped to an early 5-1 lead in the opening five-plus minutes of play, as Dysktra netted a pair. UAlbany regrouped by scoring four in a row. Christine Grueniger found the net twice, including a sidearm shot in transition following a turnover. Taylor Frink drew her team even at five apiece with a wraparound from left of the cage.
     Lehigh goalkeeper Kelsey Ferris came off the bench in the opening half to make 12 saves. Inneke Carmola finished with three goals and one assist. UAlbany's Olivia Jarem had three goals, including her 19th of the season. Frink totaled two goals and one assist.

Paw Prints:  The Great Danes lost for the first time since the season opener on March 1 at Hofstra, a 17-14 decision ... UAlbany and Lehigh met for the first time ... the Great Danes are 5-12 all-time against Patriot League opponents ... Mel Rorie tied a career-high with four goals ... the junior scored four times against three opponents last year ... Kayla Best had her 56-game, goal-scoring streak stopped ... the senior midfielder's string was second in the nation to Towson's Hillary Fratzke ... Best also owned the nation's fourth-best point scoring mark.

Lehigh 17, UAlbany 14 (Apr 12, 2010, Bethlehem, Pa.)