Saturday, February 20
Greenville, S.C.
11:00 am
Lehigh University
at
Furman
Lehigh returns to Furman for Saturday matchup
2/19/2016 12:53:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Game Notes | Watch Live (Free) | Live Stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After an impressive comeback attempt fell just short at No. 3 Duke Sunday, the Lehigh men's lacrosse team returns to the Carolinas on Saturday when the Mountain Hawks travel to Furman. Opening faceoff is set for 11 a.m. This marks the third straight season Lehigh and Furman will square off after playing in the Paladins' first and second seasons as a Division I program.
The Mountain Hawks fell behind Duke 9-2 in the second quarter on Sunday, but they wouldn't back down. Lehigh responded with the next three goals and six of the next eight to pull within 11-8 following an Alex Eaton goal early in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils scored the next two goals, but Lehigh had one last push, scoring at the 1:30, 0:45 and 0:24 marks to pull within 13-11. However, Duke won the ensuing faceoff to wrap up the victory.
Lehigh's seniors had a big day against the Blue Devils, scoring six of the team's 11 goals, with freshman Tristan Rai scoring four and junior Matt Raposo tallying one. Rai scored his four goals on five shots and has now converted 10 shots into nine goals this season. Senior Reid Weber also had a hat trick, the 12th of his career, including a pair of extra man goals. Classmate Billy Oppenheimer tied a career-high three points for a second straight week to eclipse 50 points in his career, while Ray Mastroianni set career highs in assists (3) and points (3). Eaton, another senior, also scored two goals.
The close defense was led by seniors Casey Eidenshink and Tripp Telesco. Eidenshink had five groundballs and three caused turnovers while Telesco recorded three groundballs and two caused turnovers. Junior Jason Kozel chipped in three GBs and a caused turnover as well. The freshman duo of Craig Chick and Eddie Bouhall played long-stick midfield and helped shut down Tewaaraton Award Finalist Myles Jones, holding him to just one point (a goal). The defense also helped force 20 Duke turnovers, which helped negate the Blue Devils' success at the faceoff X.
The game was a homecoming for Lehigh ninth-year head coach Kevin Cassese, who was an All-American player and an assistant coach at Duke. It marked the second time Cassese has taken his Mountain Hawks to Duke (also his first season in 2008). Sunday was Lehigh's closest game against Duke since an overtime loss to the Blue Devils in 1994.
Saturday at Furman will mark Lehigh's final nonleague tune-up before entering Patriot League play next weekend (home vs. Holy Cross). The Mountain Hawks won't hit the road for three weekends when they travel to Army West Point on Mar. 12. Lehigh will be facing a rising Furman program that advanced to the Southern Conference Tournament last season in just its second year of existence.
Furman enters Saturday's game with an 0-2 record, playing a pair of nationally-ranked teams coming off NCAA Tournament appearances. The Paladins began 2016 with a heartbreaking 8-7 loss to No. 12 Ohio State. Furman's Jonah Moore evened the score at eight with 33 seconds remaining, but the Buckeyes scored the game-winning goal with four seconds on the clock. The Paladins followed with a 14-6 loss at No. 6 North Carolina. Scott Primeau leads the offense with five points (two goals, team-leading three assists) over the first two games. He's followed by Moore and David Williamson, who have each posted four points (three goals, one assist). Williamson and Tommy Farnish are tied for the team lead with six groundballs while Hil Blaze has taken the majority of faceoffs, winning 11-of-33 on the season. Reilly McDermott has played every minute in goal, posting an 11.00 goals against average and .560 save percentage.
Lehigh is 2-0 all-time against Furman, facing off in each of the Paladins' first two seasons. Lehigh actually played Furman in its first-ever game on Feb. 1, 2014, a 13-6 Mountain Hawk victory. Last season, the Mountain Hawks scored four straight fourth-quarter goals to win, 14-11. Dan Taylor posted a career-high 10 points in the victory.
Following Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home next Saturday, Feb. 27, to open Patriot League play when they host Holy Cross. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After an impressive comeback attempt fell just short at No. 3 Duke Sunday, the Lehigh men's lacrosse team returns to the Carolinas on Saturday when the Mountain Hawks travel to Furman. Opening faceoff is set for 11 a.m. This marks the third straight season Lehigh and Furman will square off after playing in the Paladins' first and second seasons as a Division I program.
The Mountain Hawks fell behind Duke 9-2 in the second quarter on Sunday, but they wouldn't back down. Lehigh responded with the next three goals and six of the next eight to pull within 11-8 following an Alex Eaton goal early in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils scored the next two goals, but Lehigh had one last push, scoring at the 1:30, 0:45 and 0:24 marks to pull within 13-11. However, Duke won the ensuing faceoff to wrap up the victory.
Lehigh's seniors had a big day against the Blue Devils, scoring six of the team's 11 goals, with freshman Tristan Rai scoring four and junior Matt Raposo tallying one. Rai scored his four goals on five shots and has now converted 10 shots into nine goals this season. Senior Reid Weber also had a hat trick, the 12th of his career, including a pair of extra man goals. Classmate Billy Oppenheimer tied a career-high three points for a second straight week to eclipse 50 points in his career, while Ray Mastroianni set career highs in assists (3) and points (3). Eaton, another senior, also scored two goals.
The close defense was led by seniors Casey Eidenshink and Tripp Telesco. Eidenshink had five groundballs and three caused turnovers while Telesco recorded three groundballs and two caused turnovers. Junior Jason Kozel chipped in three GBs and a caused turnover as well. The freshman duo of Craig Chick and Eddie Bouhall played long-stick midfield and helped shut down Tewaaraton Award Finalist Myles Jones, holding him to just one point (a goal). The defense also helped force 20 Duke turnovers, which helped negate the Blue Devils' success at the faceoff X.
The game was a homecoming for Lehigh ninth-year head coach Kevin Cassese, who was an All-American player and an assistant coach at Duke. It marked the second time Cassese has taken his Mountain Hawks to Duke (also his first season in 2008). Sunday was Lehigh's closest game against Duke since an overtime loss to the Blue Devils in 1994.
Saturday at Furman will mark Lehigh's final nonleague tune-up before entering Patriot League play next weekend (home vs. Holy Cross). The Mountain Hawks won't hit the road for three weekends when they travel to Army West Point on Mar. 12. Lehigh will be facing a rising Furman program that advanced to the Southern Conference Tournament last season in just its second year of existence.
Furman enters Saturday's game with an 0-2 record, playing a pair of nationally-ranked teams coming off NCAA Tournament appearances. The Paladins began 2016 with a heartbreaking 8-7 loss to No. 12 Ohio State. Furman's Jonah Moore evened the score at eight with 33 seconds remaining, but the Buckeyes scored the game-winning goal with four seconds on the clock. The Paladins followed with a 14-6 loss at No. 6 North Carolina. Scott Primeau leads the offense with five points (two goals, team-leading three assists) over the first two games. He's followed by Moore and David Williamson, who have each posted four points (three goals, one assist). Williamson and Tommy Farnish are tied for the team lead with six groundballs while Hil Blaze has taken the majority of faceoffs, winning 11-of-33 on the season. Reilly McDermott has played every minute in goal, posting an 11.00 goals against average and .560 save percentage.
Lehigh is 2-0 all-time against Furman, facing off in each of the Paladins' first two seasons. Lehigh actually played Furman in its first-ever game on Feb. 1, 2014, a 13-6 Mountain Hawk victory. Last season, the Mountain Hawks scored four straight fourth-quarter goals to win, 14-11. Dan Taylor posted a career-high 10 points in the victory.
Following Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks return home next Saturday, Feb. 27, to open Patriot League play when they host Holy Cross. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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