Saturday, March 7
Bethlehem, Pa.
1 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Holy Cross
No. 17 Lehigh welcomes Holy Cross Saturday afternoon for second straight home game
3/6/2020 4:50:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Coming off arguably its strongest half of the season, the No. 17 Lehigh men's lacrosse team eyes a fourth straight victory when it hosts Holy Cross on Saturday. Gametime is set for 1 p.m. on the Patriot League Network. Trailing 5-4 early in the third quarter, the Mountain Hawks ended the game on a 10-1 run to pull away from Navy, 14-6, in the Patriot League opener for both sides. On Saturday, Lehigh will look to avenge a tough defeat at Holy Cross in the 2019 regular season finale.
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Despite standing 4-1 on the season and being in the top 20 in all major national polls, the Mountain Hawks have not yet led after one quarter of play. But even with slower starts (being outscored 19-8 in the first), Lehigh has outscored its opponents in the second (19-7), third (19-10) and fourth (23-12) quarters for a 69-48 edge on the season. Last Saturday, the Mids used four straight first-quarter goals (three of which were on the extra man) to take a 4-2 lead. But from that point forward, the Mountain Hawks did not allow an even strength goal for the ensuing 51:08 (allowing just one extra man goal) and outscoring Navy 12-2 over the game's final 52:10 for a 14-6 win. The six goals allowed were Lehigh's fewest against Navy since Apr. 22, 2014, a 14-6 win at home in the Patriot League Quarterfinals.
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In the end, Lehigh's defense allowed just two even strength goals. Junior goaltender James Spence played a big role, stopping 11 of the final 13 shots sent his way to finish with 12 saves. That helped him earn Patriot League Goalie of the Week for the first time this season and fifth time in his career. The Mountain Hawks' two-headed faceoff crew of senior Conor Gaffney and sophomore Mike Sisselberger combined to win 19-of-24 draws - 11-of-14 for Gaffney and 8-of-10 for Sisselberger. Gaffney also collected nine groundballs to reach 389 in his career, becoming the Patriot League all-time leader. He passed the previous mark of 384 held by Colgate's Peter Strid (1993-96). Gaffney won his final nine faceoffs taken, and Lehigh won 15-of-16 over the final three quarters.
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Most impressively for the Mountain Hawks was it came against a Navy team (specifically Nick Barry) who had won more than 70 percent of draws coming in. Over the last two games, the Mountain Hawks won 43-of-53 faceoffs (43-of-53).
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Meanwhile, senior Andrew Eichelberger led the offense with a career-high four goals. Freshman Christian Mule' scored three goals for his third hat trick in five games. Senior Andrew Pettit scored two goals to eclipse 100 in his career while sophomores Tommy Schelling and Cole Kirst each scored two goals. Kirst's two scores tied a career high. Senior Crew Cintron tied a career-high two points as well (one goal, one assist).
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With a win Saturday, the Mountain Hawks would improve to 5-1 after six games for the second time in the last three seasons, third time in the last seven years and fourth time in the last nine (also 2012, 2014 and 2018). A win would make Lehigh 4-0 at home for the first time since 2011.
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Holy Cross finished 4-4 in Patriot League play last season to advance to the league tournament for the second time in the last three years. The Crusaders finished 7-7 overall following a quarterfinal defeat at Army West Point. So far this year, Holy Cross is 4-2 with four one-goal victories - over Merrimack, Vermont, UMass-Lowell and Harvard. Most recently, the Crusaders dropped their Patriot League opener at Army last Saturday, 12-5. Holy Cross features a balanced offensive attack, with five already owning double-figure points. Dean DiNanno leads the team with 14 points behind nine goals and five assists. Justin Lynskey leads the Crusaders in goals with 12. Chris Conlin is the national leader in caused turnovers per game (3.0, 18 in six games) while adding 26 groundballs. Veteran Jonathan Tesoro has played every minute in goal, tallying a 9.73 goals against average and 48.7 save percentage.
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Holy Cross has won two of the last three meetings, but the Mountain Hawks still lead the all-time series, 27-2. Both of Lehigh's defeats were on the road - 14-8 on Feb. 18, 2017 and 12-7 on Apr. 26, 2019. The last time the teams played at Lehigh, the Mountain Hawks won convincingly, 15-4. Lehigh won the first-ever meeting between the two sides, 14-7 on Apr. 13, 1991.
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Following Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks hit the road next Saturday for a big one at No. 15 Army West Point in a rematch of the 2019 Patriot League Championship Game.
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Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Despite standing 4-1 on the season and being in the top 20 in all major national polls, the Mountain Hawks have not yet led after one quarter of play. But even with slower starts (being outscored 19-8 in the first), Lehigh has outscored its opponents in the second (19-7), third (19-10) and fourth (23-12) quarters for a 69-48 edge on the season. Last Saturday, the Mids used four straight first-quarter goals (three of which were on the extra man) to take a 4-2 lead. But from that point forward, the Mountain Hawks did not allow an even strength goal for the ensuing 51:08 (allowing just one extra man goal) and outscoring Navy 12-2 over the game's final 52:10 for a 14-6 win. The six goals allowed were Lehigh's fewest against Navy since Apr. 22, 2014, a 14-6 win at home in the Patriot League Quarterfinals.
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In the end, Lehigh's defense allowed just two even strength goals. Junior goaltender James Spence played a big role, stopping 11 of the final 13 shots sent his way to finish with 12 saves. That helped him earn Patriot League Goalie of the Week for the first time this season and fifth time in his career. The Mountain Hawks' two-headed faceoff crew of senior Conor Gaffney and sophomore Mike Sisselberger combined to win 19-of-24 draws - 11-of-14 for Gaffney and 8-of-10 for Sisselberger. Gaffney also collected nine groundballs to reach 389 in his career, becoming the Patriot League all-time leader. He passed the previous mark of 384 held by Colgate's Peter Strid (1993-96). Gaffney won his final nine faceoffs taken, and Lehigh won 15-of-16 over the final three quarters.
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Most impressively for the Mountain Hawks was it came against a Navy team (specifically Nick Barry) who had won more than 70 percent of draws coming in. Over the last two games, the Mountain Hawks won 43-of-53 faceoffs (43-of-53).
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Meanwhile, senior Andrew Eichelberger led the offense with a career-high four goals. Freshman Christian Mule' scored three goals for his third hat trick in five games. Senior Andrew Pettit scored two goals to eclipse 100 in his career while sophomores Tommy Schelling and Cole Kirst each scored two goals. Kirst's two scores tied a career high. Senior Crew Cintron tied a career-high two points as well (one goal, one assist).
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With a win Saturday, the Mountain Hawks would improve to 5-1 after six games for the second time in the last three seasons, third time in the last seven years and fourth time in the last nine (also 2012, 2014 and 2018). A win would make Lehigh 4-0 at home for the first time since 2011.
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Holy Cross finished 4-4 in Patriot League play last season to advance to the league tournament for the second time in the last three years. The Crusaders finished 7-7 overall following a quarterfinal defeat at Army West Point. So far this year, Holy Cross is 4-2 with four one-goal victories - over Merrimack, Vermont, UMass-Lowell and Harvard. Most recently, the Crusaders dropped their Patriot League opener at Army last Saturday, 12-5. Holy Cross features a balanced offensive attack, with five already owning double-figure points. Dean DiNanno leads the team with 14 points behind nine goals and five assists. Justin Lynskey leads the Crusaders in goals with 12. Chris Conlin is the national leader in caused turnovers per game (3.0, 18 in six games) while adding 26 groundballs. Veteran Jonathan Tesoro has played every minute in goal, tallying a 9.73 goals against average and 48.7 save percentage.
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Holy Cross has won two of the last three meetings, but the Mountain Hawks still lead the all-time series, 27-2. Both of Lehigh's defeats were on the road - 14-8 on Feb. 18, 2017 and 12-7 on Apr. 26, 2019. The last time the teams played at Lehigh, the Mountain Hawks won convincingly, 15-4. Lehigh won the first-ever meeting between the two sides, 14-7 on Apr. 13, 1991.
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Following Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks hit the road next Saturday for a big one at No. 15 Army West Point in a rematch of the 2019 Patriot League Championship Game.
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Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Players Mentioned
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