Lehigh University Athletics
#14/16 Lehigh returns home to host Lafayette on Senior Night
4/19/2013 9:42:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Riding four straight wins, the #14/16 Lehigh men's lacrosse team will close out the regular season on Saturday night when it hosts Lafayette. Faceoff on Senior Night is set for 7 p.m. Lehigh's 14 seniors will be recognized prior to their final home regular season games in the Brown & White. The Mountain Hawks will return home for at least one additional game next weekend as they earned the #1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament with an 11-7 win at #9/11 Bucknell last Friday.
Saturday is a Summit Series game presented by Johnny's Bagels. Admission is five dollars for the general public and free with a Lehigh ID. Arrive early to ensure a seat as a capacity crowd is expected.
Lehigh won at Bucknell for the first time since 1998. The Mountain Hawks have beaten both Bucknell and Colgate in the same season for the first time since 1997. Lehigh is eying its first-ever undefeated Patriot League schedule as the squad is looking to become the first team since Navy in 2006-07 to win back-to-back Patriot League Tournament Titles.
The Bison got off to a fast start last Friday, leading 2-0 and 3-1, but the Mountain Hawks came back with a vengeance. Lehigh scored five straight bridging the first through third quarters to take a 6-3 lead on its way to the 11-7 win. The defense stepped up, holding the Bison scoreless for 26:24, Lehigh's third longest shutout streak of the season. Senior David DiMaria was key in the run, having a hand in four of the five goals (one goal, three assists), this against All-League defenseman Mike Huffner. Sophomore Dan Taylor posted a hat trick - and an assist - while senior Dante Fantoni also had four points behind a goal and three helpers. Every starting attackman and midfielder scored a goal, and sophomore goalie Matt Poillon netted his first-career goal behind a 65-yard heave into an open cage to beat Bucknell's 10-man ride.
Lehigh is locked in as the #1 seed and will host the #4 seed next Friday night (at 7:30) in the Patriot League Semifinals at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Opponent will depend on results from Saturday's games. Colgate and Bucknell have clinched Patriot League Tournament berths while Army and Holy Cross will face off Saturday hoping to become the fourth qualifier. Lehigh will play in its third straight Patriot League Tournament for the first time in school history. The previous high was two in a row from 2005-06.
Lehigh continues to make history. The squad is 5-0 in league play for the first time following its second straight win over Bucknell, this after losing six straight from 2006 through 2011. The Mountain Hawks snapped an eight-game losing streak at Bucknell.
Lafayette enters with a 3-9 record, including 0-5 in Patriot League play. The Leopards began the season with a dramatic 11-10 overtime win at Big East foe Georgetown, then after two losses, beat Wagner. Lafayette lost five straight before beating High Point, and has dropped two in a row since. Sonny Round leads the team in scoring with 39 points (26 goals, 13 assists), Brian Brock has 36 points (22 goals, 14 assists), Kevin Wanke 26 (21 goals, five assists) and Morgan Westby 20 (10 goals, 10 assists). Matt Evans leads the team with 42 groundballs to go with seven caused turnovers. Geoff Stearns owns a team-leading 19 caused turnovers. Jake Hyatt has seen the majority of time in goal, posting a strong 55.7 save percentage along with a 12.81 GAA.
Lehigh leads the all-time series, 62-21-1 and has won three straight, 11 of the last 12 and 17 of the last 19 meetings. The Mountain Hawks took last year's matchup 16-6 and won in 2011, 14-7. The sides first met in 1926, a 9-0 Lehigh victory. Lehigh won 10 straight before Lafayette's first victory in 1935.
The Mountain Hawks will return to action next weekend when they host the Patriot League Tournament at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Lehigh will play the 7:30 p.m. Semifinal game on Friday against a to-be determined opponent.
2026 Men's Lacrosse Season Preview
Wednesday, February 04
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Lacrosse
Thursday, April 24
2025 Season Preview: Men's Lacrosse
Friday, January 31
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Lacrosse
Wednesday, April 10
