Saturday, March 30
Bethlehem, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
7-3, 5-0PL
10
vs
8
Boston University
7-4, 2-2PL
1
2
3
4
F
Boston University
2
3
0
3
8
Lehigh
2
3
5
0
10
No. 15 Lehigh picks up hard-fought 10-8 win over Boston U. for sixth straight win
3/30/2019 5:34:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's lacrosse team outscored visiting Boston University 5-0 in the third quarter to take a 10-5 lead into the fourth, then held off a late Terriers' charge, as the Mountain Hawks picked up their sixth straight win, 10-8 on Saturday afternoon. Junior Andrew Eichelberger scored three goals for his second-career hat trick while senior Tristan Rai tied a career-high four assists. Sophomore goaltender James Spence was strong once again, making 13 saves, including stopping all six shots sent his way in the third quarter. The Mountain Hawks improve to 7-3 on the season, 5-0 in Patriot League play heading into a first-place showdown at No. 6 Loyola next Saturday on CBS Sports Network.
With the win and results around the league, Lehigh clinched its ninth straight Patriot League Tournament berth. The Mountain Hawks are the only team in the league to qualify for each of the last nine tournaments.
"It was a great battle," said Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese. "It was what I expected. I give a lot of credit to Boston University. I thought for a good portion of the game, they outplayed us. We showed up with a big third quarter today; that was the difference in the game. I credit BU as well. They came after us in the fourth quarter and we just had to hang on. I was impressed with their fourth quarter and I was really disappointed with our fourth quarter."
Along with Eichelberger and Rai, senior Lucas Spence had two goals and an assist while classmate Alexander Tumminello scored twice. The other goals came from junior Ryan Klose and freshmen Tommy Schelling and Cole Kirst.
Defensively, senior Craig Chick collected a groundball, the 200th of his career, and two caused turnovers. Sophomore Teddy Leggett had six groundballs to reach exactly 100 in his career, along with a caused turnover. Junior Conor Gaffney had another strong day facing off, winning 14-of-22 with 11 groundballs.
Goals from Eichelberger and Tumminello at the 13:00 and 9:22 marks gave Lehigh an early 2-0 first-quarter lead. The Terriers answered with the next three, including two in the final 29 seconds of the first quarter, to take a 3-2 lead early in the second.
The Mountain Hawks scored the next three – from Eichelberger, Klose and Spence – to retake a 5-3 lead, but Boston University answered with the final two first-half scores to pull even at five following 30 minutes of play.
The third quarter saw five Lehigh goals from five different goal scorers. Eichelberger began the second half much like the first, with a goal (at the 12:11 mark). Tumminello followed with his second man-up goal of the day at 9:34. After a goal from Schelling, Lehigh scored twice in the final 43 seconds of the stanza, Spence (man-up) and Kirst, to take a 10-5 lead.
"I thought the guys listened to us at halftime," said Cassese. "We had a couple quick adjustments that we needed to make. I thought the way that BU was playing us was the right way to play us. We just needed to make a few quick adjustments. Our guys listened and we were able to get a few goals right off the bat, draw some fouls and just have some better possessions. Our possessions in the first half were not very good. And we got the faceoff going. When you win the faceoff and you get possession, it allows you to play make-it-take-it a little bit."
The Terriers quickly scored three times in the first 4:35 of the fourth to get back into the game, but Lehigh's defense buckled down from there. Neither team scored for the game's final 10:25, with Spence making three big saves to keep Lehigh in front 10-8, which proved to be the final.
Final shots were 43-38 in favor of the Terriers while groundballs were even at 38. Turnovers hurt Lehigh, with the Mountain Hawks making 21 to Boston University's 16. Lehigh was 3-of-5 on the extra man and is now eight of its last 12 man-up. The Terriers were 1-of-2. Joe McSorley made 11 saves across James Spence's 13.
"James was outstanding," said Cassese. "He made some incredible saves and really stole a few out of the back of the net, or it would have been a much different story."
The Mountain Hawks now head to No. 6 Loyola for a big matchup against the Greyhounds. Gametime is set for 11 a.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
With the win and results around the league, Lehigh clinched its ninth straight Patriot League Tournament berth. The Mountain Hawks are the only team in the league to qualify for each of the last nine tournaments.
"It was a great battle," said Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese. "It was what I expected. I give a lot of credit to Boston University. I thought for a good portion of the game, they outplayed us. We showed up with a big third quarter today; that was the difference in the game. I credit BU as well. They came after us in the fourth quarter and we just had to hang on. I was impressed with their fourth quarter and I was really disappointed with our fourth quarter."
Along with Eichelberger and Rai, senior Lucas Spence had two goals and an assist while classmate Alexander Tumminello scored twice. The other goals came from junior Ryan Klose and freshmen Tommy Schelling and Cole Kirst.
Defensively, senior Craig Chick collected a groundball, the 200th of his career, and two caused turnovers. Sophomore Teddy Leggett had six groundballs to reach exactly 100 in his career, along with a caused turnover. Junior Conor Gaffney had another strong day facing off, winning 14-of-22 with 11 groundballs.
Goals from Eichelberger and Tumminello at the 13:00 and 9:22 marks gave Lehigh an early 2-0 first-quarter lead. The Terriers answered with the next three, including two in the final 29 seconds of the first quarter, to take a 3-2 lead early in the second.
The Mountain Hawks scored the next three – from Eichelberger, Klose and Spence – to retake a 5-3 lead, but Boston University answered with the final two first-half scores to pull even at five following 30 minutes of play.
What an individual effort by Eichelberger!
— Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) March 30, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/lniVr18ACD pic.twitter.com/7Sh6G6Of7P
The third quarter saw five Lehigh goals from five different goal scorers. Eichelberger began the second half much like the first, with a goal (at the 12:11 mark). Tumminello followed with his second man-up goal of the day at 9:34. After a goal from Schelling, Lehigh scored twice in the final 43 seconds of the stanza, Spence (man-up) and Kirst, to take a 10-5 lead.
What a quarter! Kirst from Spence wraps up a 5-0 quarter for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh leads Boston U. 10-5 after three quarters of play.
— Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) March 30, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/lniVr18ACD pic.twitter.com/vW7dAHQ6SE
"I thought the guys listened to us at halftime," said Cassese. "We had a couple quick adjustments that we needed to make. I thought the way that BU was playing us was the right way to play us. We just needed to make a few quick adjustments. Our guys listened and we were able to get a few goals right off the bat, draw some fouls and just have some better possessions. Our possessions in the first half were not very good. And we got the faceoff going. When you win the faceoff and you get possession, it allows you to play make-it-take-it a little bit."
The Terriers quickly scored three times in the first 4:35 of the fourth to get back into the game, but Lehigh's defense buckled down from there. Neither team scored for the game's final 10:25, with Spence making three big saves to keep Lehigh in front 10-8, which proved to be the final.
STELLAR D down the stretch here, this forcing a shot clock violation.
— Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) March 30, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/lniVr18ACD pic.twitter.com/vkoO1Et29L
Final shots were 43-38 in favor of the Terriers while groundballs were even at 38. Turnovers hurt Lehigh, with the Mountain Hawks making 21 to Boston University's 16. Lehigh was 3-of-5 on the extra man and is now eight of its last 12 man-up. The Terriers were 1-of-2. Joe McSorley made 11 saves across James Spence's 13.
"James was outstanding," said Cassese. "He made some incredible saves and really stole a few out of the back of the net, or it would have been a much different story."
HUGE save by Spence, perhaps his best of the day, just when the Mountain Hawks needed it. #PLTop3
— Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) March 30, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/lniVr18ACD pic.twitter.com/5omioHhvuZ
The Mountain Hawks now head to No. 6 Loyola for a big matchup against the Greyhounds. Gametime is set for 11 a.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
BU
LEHIGH
Shots
43
38
Turnovers
16
21
Caused Turnovers
17
9
Faceoffs Won
8
14
Extra-Man Opps
2
5
Ground Balls
38
38
Game Leaders
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
1
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Players Mentioned
D/LSM
/ Men's LacrosseM
/ Men's Lacrosse
M/FO
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's Lacrosse
LSM/D
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's LacrosseM
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