Sept. 21, 2011

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. - Since its 2-0 loss to FDU-Florham on Monday evening which stretched the Lightning's scoreless drought to two games, the message stressed by Lehman head coach Joe André has been the need to finish when presented with scoring opportunities.

And through the first 21 minutes of Wednesday night's game against visiting Medgar Evers on a soggy South Field, it seemed as if the message would bear repeating once again as the Lightning could not convert despite several strong chances in the Cougars third of the pitch.

But in the 22nd minute, Lehman finally broke though, ending its run of offensive futility when Assami Valian took advantage of an overeager Christopher Welsh, who had ranged far out of his net to try and cut off Valian as he streaked upfield. Seeing the goalkeeper out of position, Valian calmly fired a pass crossfield to Oumar Niang who converted for the 1-0 lead.

Lehman, and Niang in particular, continued to push the action deep into Cougars' territory, resulting in a flurry towards the end of the half that produced two shots on goal for Guihounou Guede.

The second half was more of the same, with the Lightning attacking from all angles. In the 80th minute, Geovanny Arredondo, who earned his first start of the season, outraced Welsh to a deeply placed ball in Cougars territory and placed a nifty shot into the right corner of the net for the 2-0 lead. Arredondo would have another chance minutes later, only to have his strike hit the post.

All told the Lightning fired off 26 shots to only 10 for Medgar Evers.

With the win, Lehman improves to 3-4 with another conference match looming on Saturday afternoon against John Jay College in the Bronx.