Saturday, March 31
Boston, Mass.
3:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
8-3, 5-1PL
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Boston University
5-6, 1-4PL
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Lehigh
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Boston University
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Fitzpatrick game-winner in final minute gives No. 17/19 Lehigh 7-6 win at Boston U
3/31/2018 8:44:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
WATCH: Fitzpatrick's Game-Winning Goal | Postgame Reaction (Fitzpatrick and Coach Cassese)
BOSTON - Trailing 6-4 with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter, No. 17/19 Lehigh didn't allow a goal for the game's final 18:57 while ending the game with three unanswered goals to pick up a dramatic 7-6 win at Boston University on Saturday. The Lehigh defense shut-out the Terriers for the fourth quarter despite playing defense for the majority of the stanza. It set the stage for junior Mickey Fitpzatrick as the Duxbury, Massachusetts native collected a groundball off a save and fired home the game-winner with just 38 seconds remaining. In doing so, the Mountain Hawks clinched their eighth consecutive Patriot League Tournament berth.
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With the win, the Mountain Hawks improve to 8-3 on the season, including 5-1 in Patriot League play as they remain in a three-way tie for first place in the league standings.
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Junior Craig Chick led the defense with two groundballs and four caused turnovers to break the Patriot League career caused turnover record, ending the game with 108 in his career. The record came in Chick's 40th career game, passing Colgate's Bobby Lawrence, who recorded 106 caused turnovers in 65 contests.
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Boston University scored three goals in the first 4:59 of the third quarter to quickly turn a 4-2 Mountain Hawks' lead into a 5-4 Terriers' advantage. The lead reached 6-4 later in the stanza, forcing Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese to call timeout.
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"It was a critical point in our season," said Cassese. "We were out there sleepwalking a little bit and they really took it to us. The timeout wasn't about X's and O's at that point. It was just about having our guys do a gut check, dig down deeply and step up. I was proud the way they answered.
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"That moment, we could answer the call and become a great team or not get it done and go back to being an average team. I'm happy our guys were able to rally and I'm happy they stepped up."
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Sophomore Andrew Eichelberger led Lehigh's offense with two goals while juniors Andrew Pettit, Lucas Spence, Alexander Tumminello and Fitzpatrick all had a goal and assist. Freshman Teddy Leggett added five groundballs and a caused turnover.
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Tumminello opened the scoring with an extra-man goal late in the first quarter. Lehigh has now recorded a man-up goal in six straight games, converting 11-of-14 extra-man opportunities in that span to increase its season percentage to 63.3 (19-of-30).
(3/31/2018) Men's Lacrosse at Boston University
The Terriers responded with two goals in the first 2:13 of the second quarter to take a 2-1 advantage, but the Mountain Hawks answered with the final three goals of the half, from junior Tristan Rai, Pettit and Eichelberger, to take a 4-2 halftime lead.
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After Boston University's third-quarter surge to retake the lead, Spence pulled Lehigh within 6-5 at 1:52 of the third and Eichelberger scored his second just 1:27 into the fourth, knotting the game at six. Boston University controlled possession over the ensuing minutes, but the Mountain Hawks' defense limited the Terriers' opportunities and when they had chances, freshman James Spence came up big between the pipes. After Fitzpatrick's go-ahead goal, the Mountain Hawks won the ensuing faceoff and wouldn't give up possession as they wrapped up the hard-fought victory.
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"I think today was a little bit of a coming-of-age for the defense," said Cassese. "We played all man-to-man today. We really challenged our guys against a really good offense. BU has great players, great schemes and are very well coached. We asked our guys to step up. In the fourth quarter, BU was getting some shots and retaining possession. Our guys really stood up tall."
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Lehigh finished with a 30-29 edge in shots while the Mountain Hawks held a 29-23 advantage in groundballs. Sophomore faceoff specialist Conor Gaffney bounced back from going 0-for-6 in the third quarter to win all three taken in the fourth. Spence was stellar in goal, making a career-high 13 saves.
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"James was outstanding," said Cassese. "We've spent a lot of time this week with James - a lot of time in the film room and a lot of time on the field. He hasn't been very satisfied with his play and neither have we. We've been very open and honest about it. He stepped up huge today and played a spectacular game, and we really needed him to."
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The Mountain Hawks return home next Saturday (Apr. 7) to host Loyola at 1 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
BOSTON - Trailing 6-4 with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter, No. 17/19 Lehigh didn't allow a goal for the game's final 18:57 while ending the game with three unanswered goals to pick up a dramatic 7-6 win at Boston University on Saturday. The Lehigh defense shut-out the Terriers for the fourth quarter despite playing defense for the majority of the stanza. It set the stage for junior Mickey Fitpzatrick as the Duxbury, Massachusetts native collected a groundball off a save and fired home the game-winner with just 38 seconds remaining. In doing so, the Mountain Hawks clinched their eighth consecutive Patriot League Tournament berth.
Â
With the win, the Mountain Hawks improve to 8-3 on the season, including 5-1 in Patriot League play as they remain in a three-way tie for first place in the league standings.
Â
Junior Craig Chick led the defense with two groundballs and four caused turnovers to break the Patriot League career caused turnover record, ending the game with 108 in his career. The record came in Chick's 40th career game, passing Colgate's Bobby Lawrence, who recorded 106 caused turnovers in 65 contests.
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Boston University scored three goals in the first 4:59 of the third quarter to quickly turn a 4-2 Mountain Hawks' lead into a 5-4 Terriers' advantage. The lead reached 6-4 later in the stanza, forcing Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese to call timeout.
Â
"It was a critical point in our season," said Cassese. "We were out there sleepwalking a little bit and they really took it to us. The timeout wasn't about X's and O's at that point. It was just about having our guys do a gut check, dig down deeply and step up. I was proud the way they answered.
Â
"That moment, we could answer the call and become a great team or not get it done and go back to being an average team. I'm happy our guys were able to rally and I'm happy they stepped up."
Â
Sophomore Andrew Eichelberger led Lehigh's offense with two goals while juniors Andrew Pettit, Lucas Spence, Alexander Tumminello and Fitzpatrick all had a goal and assist. Freshman Teddy Leggett added five groundballs and a caused turnover.
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Tumminello opened the scoring with an extra-man goal late in the first quarter. Lehigh has now recorded a man-up goal in six straight games, converting 11-of-14 extra-man opportunities in that span to increase its season percentage to 63.3 (19-of-30).
The Terriers responded with two goals in the first 2:13 of the second quarter to take a 2-1 advantage, but the Mountain Hawks answered with the final three goals of the half, from junior Tristan Rai, Pettit and Eichelberger, to take a 4-2 halftime lead.
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After Boston University's third-quarter surge to retake the lead, Spence pulled Lehigh within 6-5 at 1:52 of the third and Eichelberger scored his second just 1:27 into the fourth, knotting the game at six. Boston University controlled possession over the ensuing minutes, but the Mountain Hawks' defense limited the Terriers' opportunities and when they had chances, freshman James Spence came up big between the pipes. After Fitzpatrick's go-ahead goal, the Mountain Hawks won the ensuing faceoff and wouldn't give up possession as they wrapped up the hard-fought victory.
Â
"I think today was a little bit of a coming-of-age for the defense," said Cassese. "We played all man-to-man today. We really challenged our guys against a really good offense. BU has great players, great schemes and are very well coached. We asked our guys to step up. In the fourth quarter, BU was getting some shots and retaining possession. Our guys really stood up tall."
Â
Lehigh finished with a 30-29 edge in shots while the Mountain Hawks held a 29-23 advantage in groundballs. Sophomore faceoff specialist Conor Gaffney bounced back from going 0-for-6 in the third quarter to win all three taken in the fourth. Spence was stellar in goal, making a career-high 13 saves.
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"James was outstanding," said Cassese. "We've spent a lot of time this week with James - a lot of time in the film room and a lot of time on the field. He hasn't been very satisfied with his play and neither have we. We've been very open and honest about it. He stepped up huge today and played a spectacular game, and we really needed him to."
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The Mountain Hawks return home next Saturday (Apr. 7) to host Loyola at 1 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
ÂWhat a way to cap off his homecoming. Mickey Fitzpatrick with the game-winner with 38 seconds remaining at Boston University today to give Lehigh a thrilling 7-6 win! pic.twitter.com/w4nFLpbZ22
— Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) March 31, 2018
Team Stats
LEHIGH
BU
Shots
30
29
Turnovers
15
12
Caused Turnovers
7
11
Faceoffs Won
8
9
Extra-Man Opps
1
2
Ground Balls
29
23
Game Leaders
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
1
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
1
Players Mentioned
D/LSM
/ Men's LacrosseM
/ Men's LacrosseA/M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M/FO
/ Men's Lacrosse
LSM/D
/ Men's LacrosseA/M
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Men's Lacrosse
A/M
/ Men's LacrosseM
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