Lehigh set for road matchup at Mercer Saturday

Saturday, February 10

Macon, Ga.

3:30 p.m.

Lehigh University

Mercer

Lehigh set for road matchup at Mercer Saturday

2/8/2018 11:36:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse

Game Notes | Live Stats

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After a season-opening win over NJIT, the Lehigh men's lacrosse team eyes a 2-0 start on Saturday when it heads south to face the Mercer Bears in Macon, Ga. Opening faceoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Five Star Stadium. The Mountain Hawks surged past NJIT in last Saturday's season opener, using a 7-1 run bridging the second and third quarters to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 10-5 lead, on their way to the 13-8 victory.

The win marked Lehigh's third straight against NJIT, all in season openers. The Mountain Hawks have won eight of their last nine season openers overall. Senior John Mehok and junior Tristan Rai scored to give Lehigh a very quick 2-0 lead, but the Highlanders scored four of the next five goals to take their lead early in the second quarter. Lehigh's ensuing run was sparked by junior Mickey Fitzpatrick, who scored three goals in that span for his first-career hat trick and first-career multi-goal game. Classmate Andrew Pettit also scored twice in the run while Mehok and sophomore Andrew Eichelberger scored the others.

Pettit finished with a game-high five points behind three goals and two assists. Mehok finished with a career-high three points (two goals, one assist) while Rai recorded three points (one goal, two assists). Senior Ian Strain dished a career-high three assists as all six starting midfielders or attackmen recorded multiple points.

Sophomore Conor Gaffney was stellar in the faceoff circle, winning 18-of-25 draws with 12 groundballs and a caused turnover. Gaffney won 12 of his last 13 faceoffs overall, including 11-of-12 in the second half, to help the Mountain Hawks post a dominant 30-8 edge in shots in the second half. Gaffney was rewarded with Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Week honors for the fourth time in his career, marking his eighth-career weekly award overall (he was also named Rookie of the Week four times last year).

Defensively, freshman Teddy Leggett had a sensational collegiate debut, recording four groundballs and two caused turnovers. Junior Eddie Bouhall had five groundballs and a caused turnover to earn honorable mention recognition on the Patriot League weekly honor roll while junior Craig Chick recorded three groundballs and two caused turnovers to up his career total to 79 as he chases Tripp Telesco's school record of 97. Freshman goaltender James Spence impressed, making nine saves while allowing just seven goals, which included stopping 7-of-10 shots sent his way in the middle two quarters.

Saturday marks Lehigh's first-ever meeting against Mercer. It will be a reunion of sorts as former Mountain Hawk assistant coach Chad Surman is on the Bears' staff as associate head coach; Surman was on Lehigh's staff in 2015.

Mercer is 0-1 early in the 2018 season following an 11-3 home loss to Vermont. The Catamounts used a 5-1 fourth quarter to turn a 6-2 lead into a runaway victory. Mercer did impress in the faceoff circle, winning 11-of-18 draws, including 10-of-16 for Kiel Brennan. Three different Bears scored goals, including one from leading returning scorer Matt Quinn. Quinn tallied 24 points last season (12 goals, 12 assists), tied for second on the team. Bradley Hodoval returns in goal and tallied eight saves against UVM, one year after recording a 10.59 goals against average and 0.498 save percentage. Mercer finished last season 5-8, 2-5 in the Southern Conference which included a win over 2015 NCAA Tournament participant High Point.

Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between Lehigh and Mercer.

After Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks head south again next weekend when it plays at North Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 12 p.m.

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