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Starsinic scores pair, Lehigh stops Philly 4-0 for another shutout.

Jim Morahan made two critical saves en route to tying the Lehigh record for shutouts in a season. -- Lehigh University web site photo --

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Tuesday, October 17, 2006) -- Junior striker Patrick Starsinic scored twice, while No. 25 Lehigh played its usual staunch defense, extending its school-record unbeaten streak in a 4-0 romp over Philadelphia in a non-conference match before 114 at Ulrich Sports Complex tonight.

Lehigh (12-1-1), which is 11-0-1 in its last 12 outings, tied a two-year-old school record with 11 shutouts while senior goalkeeper Jim Morahan tied an individual record with 10 clean sheets, bettering the 10 Sam Bishop had in 2003.

"Whenever you break a record, it is always a milestone for the program and individual," said coach Dean Koski, whose Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League at 5-0. "Right now, our ultimate focus is with what we accomplish in the league. However, I am very pleased and proud of the team."

Lehigh went ahead 1-0 when Starsinic took a cross from freshman midfielder Jesse Schram and buried his shot into the top right corner of the net with 13:26 elaosed.

Schram made it 2-0 11 minutes later. Junior forward Joe Clemente carried to the end-line before finding sophomore striker Jim Taranto lurking in the box. Taranto knocked a back-heel to Schram, who put away his fourth goal of the season.

Starsinic again found the net's top right corner with his fourth tally of 2006 at 31:18 to increase the Mountain Hawks' margin to 3-0.

In the 67th minute, Taranto took a pass from sophomore midfielder Adam Gazda, dodged goalkeeper Charles Custer and deposited his seventh goal into an empty net for the final 4-0 scoreline.

"I had a little anxiety coming into this game," Koski said. "Philadelphia had the potential to beat us. The match had all the classic makings of a letdown game with (Lehigh's 2-0 league) victory over Bucknell on Saturday night and the three upcoming games. But I have to credit the guys for not letting that happen."

Lehigh, which has conceded only four goals this season, permitted only four shots tonight with Morohan needing to make two critical saves ion the second half before departing in favor of freshman Chris Varga in the 76th minute.

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