Wednesday, April 10
Bethlehem, Pa.
5 p.m.
Lehigh University
7-5
12
vs
13
Robert Morris
4-7
1
2
3
4
F
Robert Morris
4
2
6
1
13
Lehigh
6
2
1
3
12
Photo by: Ryan Milke
No. 17 Mountain Hawks’ late charge falls just short in 13-12 defeat vs. Robert Morris
4/10/2019 8:21:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The No. 17 Lehigh men's lacrosse team scored three times in the span of 1:40 to pull within one with 2:13 remaining, but couldn't net the equalizer in a tough 13-12 nonleague loss to Robert Morris on Wednesday. Just moments after scoring his second of the game, senior Alexander Tumminello saw two close-range shots saved by Colonials' goalkeeper Alex Heger, Heger's 17th and 18th stops of the game to deny the Mountain Hawks their eighth win of the season. Junior Conor Gaffney was a big bright spot for Lehigh, winning 24-of-29 faceoffs with 16 groundballs.
Gaffney's 24 faceoff wins shattered his previous career high of 19 while his groundball total (16) tied his career best. He is up to 105 groundballs on the season, tied for sixth in Patriot League history with three regular season games and at least one postseason contest still remaining. Gaffney needs 28 more groundballs to break the league record of 132 held by Colgate's Robert Grabher (132). Gaffney also reached 302 career groundballs on Wednesday, becoming just the sixth player in league history to eclipse the 300 plateau. He needs just 12 more to break the Lehigh program record for career GBs, held by Ryan Snyder (313).
Lehigh's entire starting attack and midfield had at least one point on Wednesday, with five recording multiple points. Seniors Tumminello and Mickey Fitzpatrick each scored twice, as did freshman Tommy Schelling. Senior Tristan Rai dished three assists while Lucas Spence had two. Junior short-stick defensive midfielder Christian McHugh set career highs for goals (2) and points (3).
Defensively, sophomore Teddy Leggett set a career high with eight groundballs, while causing a turnover. Senior Craig Chick had three groundballs and a caused turnover while freshman Anthony Tangredi caused two turnovers as well.
Lehigh got off to a fast start, with two goals in the first 42 seconds of the game, and six in the first quarter. The Mountain Hawks used a 4-0 run bridging the first and second quarters, capped off by consecutive goals from Fitzpatrick (at 0:16 of the first quarter and 13:03 of the second), to take a 7-4 lead.
From there, the defending NEC Champion Colonials would score seven of the next eight goals and nine of the next 11. Lehigh still led 8-6 at the half, but Robert Morris began the second half with five straight goals and seven of the first eight. The only Lehigh goal featured defensive midfielders connecting, McHugh dishing to junior Parker Kent for the score at 4:51 of the third quarter.
When all was said and done, Robert Morris opened a 13-9 lead with 6:55 remaining in the fourth. That's when Lehigh surged back into the game, with goals from junior Ryan Klose at 3:53, Schelling at 2:43 and Tumminello at 2:13. Gaffney won the ensuing faceoff, leading to a Tumminello shot that was saved, subsequent groundball and shot from Tumminello, which was also stopped. The Mountain Hawks would get the ball back in the final minute, but couldn't get off a shot.
Final shots were 50-32 in favor of Lehigh while the Mountain Hawks held a 56-33 edge in groundballs, their third game this season with 50+ groundballs. Sophomore James Spence finished with 11 saves for Lehigh, across Heger's 18.
The Mountain Hawks return home on Saturday to host St. Bonaventure at 3 p.m. To purchase tickets online, please click here.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Gaffney's 24 faceoff wins shattered his previous career high of 19 while his groundball total (16) tied his career best. He is up to 105 groundballs on the season, tied for sixth in Patriot League history with three regular season games and at least one postseason contest still remaining. Gaffney needs 28 more groundballs to break the league record of 132 held by Colgate's Robert Grabher (132). Gaffney also reached 302 career groundballs on Wednesday, becoming just the sixth player in league history to eclipse the 300 plateau. He needs just 12 more to break the Lehigh program record for career GBs, held by Ryan Snyder (313).
Gaffney 10-of-11 facing off in that first quarter. What an effort.
— Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) April 10, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/lniVr18ACD pic.twitter.com/06UtksHlUm
Lehigh's entire starting attack and midfield had at least one point on Wednesday, with five recording multiple points. Seniors Tumminello and Mickey Fitzpatrick each scored twice, as did freshman Tommy Schelling. Senior Tristan Rai dished three assists while Lucas Spence had two. Junior short-stick defensive midfielder Christian McHugh set career highs for goals (2) and points (3).
Defensively, sophomore Teddy Leggett set a career high with eight groundballs, while causing a turnover. Senior Craig Chick had three groundballs and a caused turnover while freshman Anthony Tangredi caused two turnovers as well.
Lehigh got off to a fast start, with two goals in the first 42 seconds of the game, and six in the first quarter. The Mountain Hawks used a 4-0 run bridging the first and second quarters, capped off by consecutive goals from Fitzpatrick (at 0:16 of the first quarter and 13:03 of the second), to take a 7-4 lead.
From there, the defending NEC Champion Colonials would score seven of the next eight goals and nine of the next 11. Lehigh still led 8-6 at the half, but Robert Morris began the second half with five straight goals and seven of the first eight. The only Lehigh goal featured defensive midfielders connecting, McHugh dishing to junior Parker Kent for the score at 4:51 of the third quarter.
D-mids connect. Parker Kent from Christian McHugh and Lehigh is back within 11-9!
— Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) April 10, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/lniVr18ACD pic.twitter.com/UANMv14hYb
When all was said and done, Robert Morris opened a 13-9 lead with 6:55 remaining in the fourth. That's when Lehigh surged back into the game, with goals from junior Ryan Klose at 3:53, Schelling at 2:43 and Tumminello at 2:13. Gaffney won the ensuing faceoff, leading to a Tumminello shot that was saved, subsequent groundball and shot from Tumminello, which was also stopped. The Mountain Hawks would get the ball back in the final minute, but couldn't get off a shot.
That's three goals in a minute, 40 seconds. Mountain Hawks within one!
— Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) April 10, 2019
Watch: https://t.co/lniVr18ACD pic.twitter.com/Hcb4SVnaHK
Final shots were 50-32 in favor of Lehigh while the Mountain Hawks held a 56-33 edge in groundballs, their third game this season with 50+ groundballs. Sophomore James Spence finished with 11 saves for Lehigh, across Heger's 18.
The Mountain Hawks return home on Saturday to host St. Bonaventure at 3 p.m. To purchase tickets online, please click here.
Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
RMU
LEHIGH
Shots
32
50
Turnovers
10
15
Caused Turnovers
11
8
Faceoffs Won
5
24
Extra-Man Opps
2
1
Ground Balls
33
56
Game Leaders
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Players Mentioned
D/LSM
/ Men's LacrosseM
/ Men's Lacrosse
M/FO
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
LSM/D
/ Men's LacrosseM
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
D
/ Men's LacrosseM
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