
No. 5 Mountain Hawks Drop Regular Season Finale at No. 16 Villanova
5/1/2021 7:22:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
VILLANOVA, Pa. – No. 16 Villanova jumped out to a 9-2 halftime lead and wouldn't look back, handing the No. 5 Lehigh men's lacrosse team a 16-8 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium. The loss was the Mountain Hawks' first of the season as they fall to 9-1 overall heading into the Patriot League Tournament. Lehigh will host the winner of Tuesday's Boston University vs. Colgate quarterfinal game in the semifinals next Friday at 4 p.m.
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"I'd like to tip my cap to Villanova," said Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese. "I thought they played an exceptional game. We were never really in this one. They controlled it from the start. Congrats to them."
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In the end, 24 Mountain Hawk turnovers and 8-of-15 clearing hurt. Fourteen of Lehigh's turnovers were caused by Villanova. The loss snaps Lehigh's nation's leading 13-game winning streak dating back to last season.
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With the scored tied at one, the Wildcats scored seven straight to take an 8-1 lead. Sophomore Justin Tiernan scored from classmate Christian Mule' on the extra man, but the Wildcats responded with the next four – including three straight to begin the third quarter – to erase much doubt.
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The Mountain Hawks did score three of the next four goals to pull within 13-5 early in the fourth quarter, and six of the game's final 10 goals overall, but it was too little, too late.
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Juniors Tommy Schelling and Cole Kirst led the offense with two goals apiece. Mule' had a goal and assist. Senior Matt Douglas tallied three groundballs and two caused turnovers on the defensive end while classmate Teddy Leggett had six groundballs to eclipse 200 in his career – becoming just the seventh player in program history to reach that plateau. The program leader in that category, graduate student Conor Gaffney, also collected two groundballs to eclipse 400.
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Junior Mike Sisselberger excelled in winning 20-of-22 with eight groundballs. Senior James Spence made seven first-quarter saves and finished with 13 on the afternoon. A pair of Wildcats' goaltenders combined for 10.
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Final shots were 43-41 in favor of Villanova while Lehigh held a 30-24 edge in groundballs.
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The Mountain Hawks return to action on Friday as they host either Boston University or Colgate in the Patriot League Semifinals at 4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Following that game, Army West Point will face the winner of Loyola and Navy at 7 p.m.
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Like Lehigh men's lacrosse on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
ÂGallery: (5-1-2021) Men's Lacrosse at Villanova, 5/1/21
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"I'd like to tip my cap to Villanova," said Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese. "I thought they played an exceptional game. We were never really in this one. They controlled it from the start. Congrats to them."
Â
In the end, 24 Mountain Hawk turnovers and 8-of-15 clearing hurt. Fourteen of Lehigh's turnovers were caused by Villanova. The loss snaps Lehigh's nation's leading 13-game winning streak dating back to last season.
Â
With the scored tied at one, the Wildcats scored seven straight to take an 8-1 lead. Sophomore Justin Tiernan scored from classmate Christian Mule' on the extra man, but the Wildcats responded with the next four – including three straight to begin the third quarter – to erase much doubt.
Â
The Mountain Hawks did score three of the next four goals to pull within 13-5 early in the fourth quarter, and six of the game's final 10 goals overall, but it was too little, too late.
Â
Juniors Tommy Schelling and Cole Kirst led the offense with two goals apiece. Mule' had a goal and assist. Senior Matt Douglas tallied three groundballs and two caused turnovers on the defensive end while classmate Teddy Leggett had six groundballs to eclipse 200 in his career – becoming just the seventh player in program history to reach that plateau. The program leader in that category, graduate student Conor Gaffney, also collected two groundballs to eclipse 400.
Â
Junior Mike Sisselberger excelled in winning 20-of-22 with eight groundballs. Senior James Spence made seven first-quarter saves and finished with 13 on the afternoon. A pair of Wildcats' goaltenders combined for 10.
Â
Final shots were 43-41 in favor of Villanova while Lehigh held a 30-24 edge in groundballs.
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The Mountain Hawks return to action on Friday as they host either Boston University or Colgate in the Patriot League Semifinals at 4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Following that game, Army West Point will face the winner of Loyola and Navy at 7 p.m.
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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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Team Stats
LEHIGH
VU
Shots
41
43
Turnovers
24
14
Caused Turnovers
5
14
Faceoffs Won
21
5
Extra-Man Opps
5
5
Ground Balls
30
24
Game Leaders
Players
Players Mentioned
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