Saturday, March 14
Annapolis, Md.
2:30 pm
Lehigh University
at
Navy
Lehigh returns to Patriot League action at Navy Saturday
3/12/2015 1:43:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Game Notes | Watch Live (Free) | Live Stats
Â
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Riding a three-game losing streak for the first time since 2011, the Lehigh men's lacrosse team will look to get back on track when the Mountain Hawks travel to Navy for a Saturday afternoon showdown. Opening faceoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The two teams are in the middle of the tight Patriot League standings which features no unbeaten teams as eight of the nine teams have either one or two league defeats.
Â
Lehigh has enjoyed success against Navy as of late, winning five straight games after breaking a 98-year drought against the Midshipmen in 2011. Only one of the games came at Navy, however, as the last three Lehigh-Navy games were played in Bethlehem. Two came last season, including in the Patriot League Quarterfinals when the Mountain Hawks pulled out a hard-fought 10-6 victory. In the last meeting in Annapolis, the Midshipmen jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but the Mountain Hawks held Navy scoreless for the game's final 40:02 on the way to its 10th win of the season.
Â
Tuesday's nonleague tilt at Villanova was a tale of two halves. The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead just minutes in, but the Lehigh defense bore down to hold them scoreless for the next 22:13. The Mountain Hawks allowed just two shots on goal in that span, both stopped by senior goalie Matt Poillon. Meanwhile, the Lehigh offense evened the score as senior Kurtis Kaunas scored at 9:56 of the first quarter and junior Reid Weber made it 2-2 at 2:43 of the second. The Wildcats scored with just five seconds left in the second quarter which sparked a 6-0 run spanning the end of the second through the middle of the fourth quarters. Lehigh kept attacking, finishing with seven fourth-quarter shots on goal, but Villanova goalie Dan Willis made six fourth-quarter stops. He finished the game with 10 saves, allowing just one goal, playing the second half after Greg Stamatov stopped four of six shots sent his way in the first.
Â
Senior Lukas Mikelinich led Lehigh with four groundballs while junior Corey Eppley had a strong game with three groundballs and a caused turnover. The Mountain Hawks held the statistical edge in most categories, but 15 turnovers proved costly. Freshman goalie Adam Sawicki made his collegiate debut on Tuesday, entering late in the third quarter. Villanova scored on its first three shots on goal vs. Sawicki, but the rookie responded by stopping the final four shots sent his way.
Â
Navy is 4-3 through seven games, defeating VMI, Holy Cross, Towson and Lafayette while falling to Maryland, Bucknell and Johns Hopkins. The Midshipmen have won games with their offense (beating VMI 21-7 and Lafayette 18-4) while also winning games with their defense (beating #19 Holy Cross 7-6 and #14 Towson 8-7 in triple overtime). Navy also allowed just eight goals in losses to #8 Maryland and Bucknell. Patrick Keena leads the team in scoring with 21 points behind six goals and a team-high 15 assists. T.J. Hanzsche is next with 20 points (team-high 13 goals, seven assists). Kevin Wendel (12 goals, two assists) and Jack Ray (10 goals, two assists) own 14 and 12 points, respectively. Chris Fennell leads the defense with 26 groundballs (second on the team) and a team-high nine caused turnovers. Brady Dove has dominated at the faceoff X, winning 70.3 percent (71-of-101) with a team-high 35 groundballs. John Connors has started all seven games in goal, owning a 7.39 GAA and .542 save percentage.
Â
Lehigh beat Navy in 2011, 14-10, to snap a 26-game losing streak and beat the Midshipmen for the first time in 98 years. The prior (and first) win was in 1913 by a 4-3 final. Lehigh has won five straight against Navy to pull within 29-6 in the all-time series. Four of those five consecutive victories came at home with the lone game in Annapolis finishing 9-4 in favor of Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks went 2-0 against the Mids last season, winning 13-2 during the regular season before edging Navy 10-6 in a hard-fought Patriot League Quarterfinal matchup. The first meeting between Lehigh and Navy came in 1910, a 4-2 Navy victory.
Â
The Mountain Hawks return home on Tuesday for a big nonleague matchup against #3 Denver. Lehigh will then host #13/14 Army next Saturday (Mar. 21) at 1 p.m.
Â
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Â
Â
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Riding a three-game losing streak for the first time since 2011, the Lehigh men's lacrosse team will look to get back on track when the Mountain Hawks travel to Navy for a Saturday afternoon showdown. Opening faceoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The two teams are in the middle of the tight Patriot League standings which features no unbeaten teams as eight of the nine teams have either one or two league defeats.
Â
Lehigh has enjoyed success against Navy as of late, winning five straight games after breaking a 98-year drought against the Midshipmen in 2011. Only one of the games came at Navy, however, as the last three Lehigh-Navy games were played in Bethlehem. Two came last season, including in the Patriot League Quarterfinals when the Mountain Hawks pulled out a hard-fought 10-6 victory. In the last meeting in Annapolis, the Midshipmen jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but the Mountain Hawks held Navy scoreless for the game's final 40:02 on the way to its 10th win of the season.
Â
Tuesday's nonleague tilt at Villanova was a tale of two halves. The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead just minutes in, but the Lehigh defense bore down to hold them scoreless for the next 22:13. The Mountain Hawks allowed just two shots on goal in that span, both stopped by senior goalie Matt Poillon. Meanwhile, the Lehigh offense evened the score as senior Kurtis Kaunas scored at 9:56 of the first quarter and junior Reid Weber made it 2-2 at 2:43 of the second. The Wildcats scored with just five seconds left in the second quarter which sparked a 6-0 run spanning the end of the second through the middle of the fourth quarters. Lehigh kept attacking, finishing with seven fourth-quarter shots on goal, but Villanova goalie Dan Willis made six fourth-quarter stops. He finished the game with 10 saves, allowing just one goal, playing the second half after Greg Stamatov stopped four of six shots sent his way in the first.
Â
Senior Lukas Mikelinich led Lehigh with four groundballs while junior Corey Eppley had a strong game with three groundballs and a caused turnover. The Mountain Hawks held the statistical edge in most categories, but 15 turnovers proved costly. Freshman goalie Adam Sawicki made his collegiate debut on Tuesday, entering late in the third quarter. Villanova scored on its first three shots on goal vs. Sawicki, but the rookie responded by stopping the final four shots sent his way.
Â
Navy is 4-3 through seven games, defeating VMI, Holy Cross, Towson and Lafayette while falling to Maryland, Bucknell and Johns Hopkins. The Midshipmen have won games with their offense (beating VMI 21-7 and Lafayette 18-4) while also winning games with their defense (beating #19 Holy Cross 7-6 and #14 Towson 8-7 in triple overtime). Navy also allowed just eight goals in losses to #8 Maryland and Bucknell. Patrick Keena leads the team in scoring with 21 points behind six goals and a team-high 15 assists. T.J. Hanzsche is next with 20 points (team-high 13 goals, seven assists). Kevin Wendel (12 goals, two assists) and Jack Ray (10 goals, two assists) own 14 and 12 points, respectively. Chris Fennell leads the defense with 26 groundballs (second on the team) and a team-high nine caused turnovers. Brady Dove has dominated at the faceoff X, winning 70.3 percent (71-of-101) with a team-high 35 groundballs. John Connors has started all seven games in goal, owning a 7.39 GAA and .542 save percentage.
Â
Lehigh beat Navy in 2011, 14-10, to snap a 26-game losing streak and beat the Midshipmen for the first time in 98 years. The prior (and first) win was in 1913 by a 4-3 final. Lehigh has won five straight against Navy to pull within 29-6 in the all-time series. Four of those five consecutive victories came at home with the lone game in Annapolis finishing 9-4 in favor of Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks went 2-0 against the Mids last season, winning 13-2 during the regular season before edging Navy 10-6 in a hard-fought Patriot League Quarterfinal matchup. The first meeting between Lehigh and Navy came in 1910, a 4-2 Navy victory.
Â
The Mountain Hawks return home on Tuesday for a big nonleague matchup against #3 Denver. Lehigh will then host #13/14 Army next Saturday (Mar. 21) at 1 p.m.
Â
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Â
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's LacrosseLehigh 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
