Saturday, March 9
Bethlehem, Pa.
1 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Army West Point
Mountain Hawks return home for a Saturday showdown vs. No. 16/17 Army West Point
3/8/2019 12:11:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following a big Patriot League opening win at No. 16/19 Colgate last week, the Lehigh men's lacrosse team returns home this Saturday looking to knock off another ranked opponent as No. 16/17 Army West Point comes to town. Opening faceoff is set for 1 p.m. on the Patriot League Network. The Mountain Hawks ended a three-game losing skid by jumping out to a 6-2 halftime lead over the Raiders, on the way to the 10-8 victory.
The win came over a resurgent Colgate team that opened its season by winning at Syracuse. Lehigh began Patriot League play with a win for the ninth time in the last 10 years, while also besting Colgate for the ninth time in its last 10 tries. Senior Lucas Spence returned from injury and made an immediate impact, scoring just 48 seconds into the contest. After the Raiders pulled even, the Mountain Hawks ended the half on a 5-1 run to take a commanding 6-2 halftime edge. Colgate scored four straight to begin the third quarter and pull even, but the Mountain Hawks responded with three times over the final 2:51 of the stanza to retake a commanding 9-6 lead, on the way to victory.
Spence helped pace the offense with five points via three goals and two assists. Junior Andrew Eichelberger scored twice to up his season total to seven. Senior Tristan Rai had a goal and two assists while junior Crew Cintron posted his first points of the season, tallying a goal and assist. Junior Conor Gaffney was one of the stories of the game, winning 17-of-20 faceoffs with 14 groundballs. He was honored with Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Week for the first time this season and eighth time in his career (12th weekly award overall, including four Rookies of the Week). Gaffney is up to fifth nationally in faceoff winning percentage this season (68.8).
Sophomore James Spence was strong in goal, making 11 saves, which includes stopping six of eight sent his way in the first half. Spence was also recognized by the Patriot League Monday with Goalkeeper of the Week laurels. Defensively, sophomore Teddy Leggett played an important role on the faceoff wing, while also shutting down Colgate's top midfielder Griffin Brown; Brown was held point-less while Leggett collected five groundballs. The Mountain Hawks held a 31-10 edge in groundballs for the game and currently stand second nationally with 39.80 groundballs per contest.
Along with groundballs, Lehigh as a team currently stands top 10 nationally in faceoff winning percentage (sixth, 67.9), man-down defense (sixth, 82.4 percent), clearing percentage (sixth, 88.8) and scoring defense (seventh, 9.00). After Saturday's game vs. Army, the Mountain Hawks will play another team currently ranked; Lehigh travels to Rutgers on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a nationally-televised game on the Big Ten Network. The Scarlet Knights are currently 20th in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll.
Army West Point has enjoyed a strong start to 2019, winning at No. 19 UMass 12-11, at No. 8 Rutgers 10-9 and home vs. Marist 10-4. The Black Knights then lost at No. 20 Syracuse 10-8 before beating Lafayette 12-5 in the Patriot League opener. The Black Knights are led offensively by freshman Brendan Nichtern, who leads the tam in goals (12), assists (12) and points (24). Matt Manown comes in at 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) while Miles Silva has eight points (all goals). Army has won just 38.0 percent of its faceoffs on the season, but freshman Ethan Baranagan has won 19-of-25, including 18-of-20 against Lafayette. AJ Barretto has started every game in goal, tallying a 7.75 goals against average and 62.7 save percentage.
The all-time series with Army has gone back-and-forth, with Lehigh winning four of five between 2012 and 2014 before the Black Knights responded with four in a row from 2015 to 2017. Last year, the Mountain Hawks picked up a thrilling 9-7 victory at the then No. 12 Black Knights. The two teams have squared off in three of the last seven Patriot League Tournaments, with Lehigh winning in the semifinals in 2012 and 2014, and Army winning in the quarterfinals in 2016. Seven of Lehigh's eight all-time wins against the Black Knights have come in the last 16 meetings. Army won the first-ever meeting in 1922 by a 4-1 final before the sides reconvened in 1990, a 15-11 Army victory. Lehigh's first win was in 1999, 13-9.
Following Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks have a quick turnaround as they travel to No. 20 Rutgers on Tuesday. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. televised nationally on the Big Ten Network.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
The win came over a resurgent Colgate team that opened its season by winning at Syracuse. Lehigh began Patriot League play with a win for the ninth time in the last 10 years, while also besting Colgate for the ninth time in its last 10 tries. Senior Lucas Spence returned from injury and made an immediate impact, scoring just 48 seconds into the contest. After the Raiders pulled even, the Mountain Hawks ended the half on a 5-1 run to take a commanding 6-2 halftime edge. Colgate scored four straight to begin the third quarter and pull even, but the Mountain Hawks responded with three times over the final 2:51 of the stanza to retake a commanding 9-6 lead, on the way to victory.
Spence helped pace the offense with five points via three goals and two assists. Junior Andrew Eichelberger scored twice to up his season total to seven. Senior Tristan Rai had a goal and two assists while junior Crew Cintron posted his first points of the season, tallying a goal and assist. Junior Conor Gaffney was one of the stories of the game, winning 17-of-20 faceoffs with 14 groundballs. He was honored with Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Week for the first time this season and eighth time in his career (12th weekly award overall, including four Rookies of the Week). Gaffney is up to fifth nationally in faceoff winning percentage this season (68.8).
Sophomore James Spence was strong in goal, making 11 saves, which includes stopping six of eight sent his way in the first half. Spence was also recognized by the Patriot League Monday with Goalkeeper of the Week laurels. Defensively, sophomore Teddy Leggett played an important role on the faceoff wing, while also shutting down Colgate's top midfielder Griffin Brown; Brown was held point-less while Leggett collected five groundballs. The Mountain Hawks held a 31-10 edge in groundballs for the game and currently stand second nationally with 39.80 groundballs per contest.
Along with groundballs, Lehigh as a team currently stands top 10 nationally in faceoff winning percentage (sixth, 67.9), man-down defense (sixth, 82.4 percent), clearing percentage (sixth, 88.8) and scoring defense (seventh, 9.00). After Saturday's game vs. Army, the Mountain Hawks will play another team currently ranked; Lehigh travels to Rutgers on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a nationally-televised game on the Big Ten Network. The Scarlet Knights are currently 20th in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll.
Army West Point has enjoyed a strong start to 2019, winning at No. 19 UMass 12-11, at No. 8 Rutgers 10-9 and home vs. Marist 10-4. The Black Knights then lost at No. 20 Syracuse 10-8 before beating Lafayette 12-5 in the Patriot League opener. The Black Knights are led offensively by freshman Brendan Nichtern, who leads the tam in goals (12), assists (12) and points (24). Matt Manown comes in at 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) while Miles Silva has eight points (all goals). Army has won just 38.0 percent of its faceoffs on the season, but freshman Ethan Baranagan has won 19-of-25, including 18-of-20 against Lafayette. AJ Barretto has started every game in goal, tallying a 7.75 goals against average and 62.7 save percentage.
The all-time series with Army has gone back-and-forth, with Lehigh winning four of five between 2012 and 2014 before the Black Knights responded with four in a row from 2015 to 2017. Last year, the Mountain Hawks picked up a thrilling 9-7 victory at the then No. 12 Black Knights. The two teams have squared off in three of the last seven Patriot League Tournaments, with Lehigh winning in the semifinals in 2012 and 2014, and Army winning in the quarterfinals in 2016. Seven of Lehigh's eight all-time wins against the Black Knights have come in the last 16 meetings. Army won the first-ever meeting in 1922 by a 4-1 final before the sides reconvened in 1990, a 15-11 Army victory. Lehigh's first win was in 1999, 13-9.
Following Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks have a quick turnaround as they travel to No. 20 Rutgers on Tuesday. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. televised nationally on the Big Ten Network.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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