Lehigh-Lafayette MVP Pierce honored by Patriot League

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After registering a career-high 15 tackles in Saturday's win over rival Lafayette, Lehigh senior linebacker Al Pierce was named the Patriot League's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. This marks the second straight year Pierce has won the honor after a Lehigh win over Lafayette and the third honor for Pierce's career.

Pierce was one of the leaders of a defensive effort that limited the Leopards to just 13 points on the day. Nine of Pierce's tackles came in the first quarter and ten of the 15 overall were solo stops. Pierce and fellow middle linebacker junior Mike Groome (16 tackles) combined for 31 stops, including a tackle after a seven yard gain on fourth and ten that wrapped up the game for the Mountain Hawks. The Moorestown, N.J. native also picked up his team-leading fifth sack of the season and added a pair of tackles for loss for a Lehigh unit that now tops the Patriot League in scoring defense and rushing defense.

For his efforts, Pierce was voted Most Valuable Player of the Lehigh-Lafayette game, becoming just the fourth defensive player to win the MVP award and the first since Lehigh's Matt Salvaterra in 2000.

For the season, Pierce ranks second on the Mountain Hawks with 86 total tackles, including 57 solo stops. He has 9.5 tackles for loss to go along with his five sacks plus four pass breakups and a forced fumble. Pierce was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after Lehigh's season-opening win over Drake on September 4 and added a then career high 13 tackles the following week against Villanova.

Lehigh (9-2, 5-0 Patriot League) won its seventh straight game overall and its third straight against Lafayette. The 19th-ranked Mountain Hawks will visit No. 16 Northern Iowa Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs at UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. (CST) with audio coverage on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 as well as online at Lehighsports.com.

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Lehigh-Lafayette MVP Pierce honored by Patriot League

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