NEWARK, NJ—Visiting Lehigh scored a methodical 2-0 victory against NJIT in non-conference women's soccer Sunday afternoon on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.

The Mountain Hawks, a 2010 NCAA Division I College Cup postseason qualifier, raised their 2011 record to 3-2-1 with Sunday's win over the Highlanders, who are winless in eight tries.

Lehigh, a strong passing and possession team, had a decided advantage in possession against NJIT, which was willing to allow side-to-side passes in order to slow forward movement of the Mountain Hawks attack.

The visitors were also strong on the defensive end and were rarely threatened. As a result, most of the action took place between the two penalty areas.

Lehigh scored a goal in each half, as Murphee Greeley, a sophomore forward, got things started with her third tally of the year, assisted by Sophie Mayeux at 26:53. Freshman Darby Wiegand netted her first college goal, assisted by Paige Dyrek at 73:58.

Ali Griffin, making her first start of the season for Lehigh, made two saves in recording the shutout. The NJIT goalkeeper, freshman Amanda Murray, made her career debut and was credited with nine saves.

“She earned her stripes,” said NJIT coach Sergio Gonzalez of Murray, who took over for sophomore Anna Kornmuller, the starter in the team's first seven games. “Every team needs more than one goalkeeper and (Murray) has been training well. She made the most of her opportunity.”

Lehigh took 17 shots in the match, 11 of which were on target. NJIT, which got its first shot in the 61st minute, finished with three total shots, two of which were on target.

Lehigh's first-half goal, in the 27th minute, came when Greeley knocked home a rebound of her own shot that was blocked by the NJIT defense and came back to her.

The Mountain Hawks picked up their second goal with just over 16 minutes remaining. A shot had caromed off an NJIT defender and went high in the air. Lehigh's Dyrek controlled it on the bounce in front of the NJIT goal and she sent a pass off the side of her left foot to Wiegand, who tapped it home.

NJIT's first shot of the day was a high floating try from 25 yards out by Meryl Hershfield that appeared to give Griffin a bit of trouble before she caught it chin-high.

“If you look at what happened last year against this team (Lehigh won, 6-0, on October 3, 2010 in the last meeting), you can see we've come a long way,” said Gonzalez, the first-year coach of the Highlanders. “They're a potent scoring team and for the most part, we neutralized that.

“Our record does not indicate our progress and our aim is to keep improving and be playing our best soccer when the Great West (Conference) comes up (the first of six conference games is on October 7) and I think we're headed in that direction. We're playing better all over the field and we're working hard. I can't ask for more than what these players are giving.”  

The Highlanders will continue their homestand with an Alumnae Day contest against Saint Peter's Friday at 7 pm on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.