Down nine goals to Loyola and nearing halftime, Lehigh was looking for a spark.

A pass from junior attacker Gabby Schneider to junior attacker Katia Carnevale led to just that. Carnevale, positioned perfectly in the center of the eight-meter, swiftly swiveled her stick to score from a challenging, backhanded angle.

Carnevale’s creativity in that moment — which earned a feature at No. 9 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays — is just one of several instances in which the Mountain Hawks have been especially crafty this season.

In that same game, junior attacker Emma Eberhardt nailed a behind-the-back free position shot, and she also put away backhanded goals against Saint Joseph’s and Siena. These dynamic shots have earned Lehigh four different features on SportsCenter this school year — once during fall ball and three times during this spring.

“We encourage them to find the best shot they can in order to get in the back of the net,” associate head coach Sammy Cermack said. “Sometimes that’s a twizzler or behind the back to increase their angle. I’ve been really proud of them for executing in games and being able to put themselves out there and get exposed.”

While the Mountain Hawks sit at 3-5, their attack’s creativity and craftiness have made their matchups look dynamic and fun regardless of the outcome. The program lost offensive leaders Sonia Dickey, a 2021 third-team IWLCA All-American, and Cecily Redfern to graduation. But Carnevale, Schneider and Eberhardt, who have started together since their freshman year, stepped up in their place.

“We all have very different strengths, which creates a very crafty, creative and overall fun offense,” Carnevale said. “We have a lot of fun together, and we have a really high chemistry down there.”

Schneider, Eberhardt and Carnevale have combined for 48 goals this season — over half of the Mountain Hawks’ total (82). Cermack said the trio is especially close-knit and has built chemistry after starting alongside each other for three years, displaying selflessness on the field. 

Carnevale credited Lehigh’s coaching staff with fostering creativity during practice. She said the coaches encourage players to think outside the box on attack while remaining honest and providing feedback when players take shots that wouldn’t pan out in a game-time environment.

Cermack, who runs the Mountain Hawks’ attack, said the program prioritizes recruits with “superior stick skills” and continues to work on building these skills once they arrive at Lehigh. Emphasizing stick work during practice activities like partner passing and shooting drills has been key to developing creativity on the offensive end, Cermack said.

“The cool thing about lacrosse and stick work is that it’s really in your control how good your stick can get,” Cermack said. “You can’t necessarily control how fast you are or how quick you are as a dodger, but you can always work on your stick and get better.”

Finding new ways to score and receiving recognition from SportsCenter has been fun, Carnevale said, but it’s not the end-all-be-all. She said it pales in comparison to winning, and she’s also enjoyed some of the smaller moments on the field this season, like witnessing first-years scoring their first collegiate goals.

Cermack agreed, saying she’s enjoyed when the Mountain Hawks are in the spotlight on ESPN but has been especially thrilled while watching everything go to plan during games.

“The bigger moments are when we work on something in practice and we see it translate in the game and then seeing them celebrate that moment,” Cermack said. “Those are the best moments for me and our other coaches on the sideline. There’s been a lot of those when they follow the game plan and then are able to execute it. It’s been awesome.”

NUMBERS OF NOTE

408

Graduate attacker Jamie Ortega was key in UNC’s takedown of High Point on Wednesday, recording a season-high nine points in the Tar Heels’ 23-9 victory. When Ortega scored in the opening minute of the game, she also created some history of her own by eclipsing 400 career points. She now ranks fourth all-time in NCAA career points with 408 and is one of just five members of the 400-point club.

5

Johns Hopkins snapped a three-game losing streak on Sunday, defeating East Carolina 14-7 in the first-ever meeting between the programs. Junior midfielder Madison McPherson was all over the field in the victory, notching five goals, a controlled turnover and a ground ball. McPherson hit a new career-high with her five goals — all of which she recorded in the second half. This marks the first time since 2019 that a Blue Jay has scored five times in a half.

30

Oregon secured its second win of the season in a 16-9 takedown of Marquette in Eugene. The game was a balanced effort all over the field, as eight different players scored, six players won draw controls and five notched controlled turnovers. The Ducks also tallied a season-high 30 ground balls in the victory.

37

A masterful offensive performance by graduate attacker Lauren Gilbert paved the way to Northwestern’s dominant, double-digit victory over Dartmouth on Monday. Gilbert notched a season-high six goals in the 18-8 win and now leads the Big Ten with 37 goals on the season. Her success has also set her apart on the national level, ranking No. 6 in goals per game and No. 10 in overall goals.