Photo by: Matt Smith
Sisselberger and Spence Named to Tewaaraton Award Watch List
2/10/2022 7:47:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Two days ahead of Lehigh men's lacrosse's season opener, senior Mike Sisselberger and graduate student James Spence have been named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, as announced on Thursday night. Sisselberger and senior Tommy Schelling were named to the Watch List last season, with Sisselberger later being named one of the final 25 nominees. The lists include the top players across all three divisions of NCAA lacrosse and highlight the early contenders for the 2022 Tewaaraton Award.
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The Tewaaraton Award annually honors the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. The selection committees are made up of premier collegiate coaches and are appointed annually by The Tewaaraton Foundation. This season marks the seventh time in program history (and third straight season) the Mountain Hawks have featured multiple student-athletes named to the Watch List in a given season. Lehigh is tied for the most student-athletes named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List in the Patriot League, along with Army West Point and Loyola.
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A preseason first team All-American by the USILA, USA Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse Media (where he was one of just four unanimous first team All-Americans), Sisselberger finished his junior season with the best faceoff winning percentage for a season in NCAA Division I history – 79.5 percent (225-of-283) – breaking the previous mark of 79.1 percent held by Albany's TD Ierlan in 2018. Sisselberger also finished the season with 160 groundballs, a new program and Patriot League record, especially impressive after a shorter season than usual (12 games played in 2021). Sisselberger collected double-figure groundballs in 11 of those contests while offensively, he added four goals and two assists. He was named the Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Year and was the only men's lacrosse student-athlete from the league named a first team postseason All-American.
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Spence has started all but one game in goal since arriving on campus. As a first year and sophomore, he immediately led the Mountain Hawks to back-to-back Patriot League Championship Game, then after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season (when Lehigh stood 5-1), Spence put forth his best season to date in leading Lehigh to a perfect league record and NCAA Tournament berth as a senior in 2021. Spence was named an honorable mention All-American by three outlets following the season (USILA, Inside Lacrosse Media and USA Lacrosse Magazine). He finished with a 9.83 goals against average and 56.0 save percentage – good for 15th and 14th in the nation, respectively.
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Sisselberger, Spence and the Mountain Hawks are set to open their season on Saturday, Feb. 12 at NJIT. Gametime is set for 11:30 a.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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The Tewaaraton Award annually honors the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. The selection committees are made up of premier collegiate coaches and are appointed annually by The Tewaaraton Foundation. This season marks the seventh time in program history (and third straight season) the Mountain Hawks have featured multiple student-athletes named to the Watch List in a given season. Lehigh is tied for the most student-athletes named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List in the Patriot League, along with Army West Point and Loyola.
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A preseason first team All-American by the USILA, USA Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse Media (where he was one of just four unanimous first team All-Americans), Sisselberger finished his junior season with the best faceoff winning percentage for a season in NCAA Division I history – 79.5 percent (225-of-283) – breaking the previous mark of 79.1 percent held by Albany's TD Ierlan in 2018. Sisselberger also finished the season with 160 groundballs, a new program and Patriot League record, especially impressive after a shorter season than usual (12 games played in 2021). Sisselberger collected double-figure groundballs in 11 of those contests while offensively, he added four goals and two assists. He was named the Patriot League Faceoff Specialist of the Year and was the only men's lacrosse student-athlete from the league named a first team postseason All-American.
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Spence has started all but one game in goal since arriving on campus. As a first year and sophomore, he immediately led the Mountain Hawks to back-to-back Patriot League Championship Game, then after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season (when Lehigh stood 5-1), Spence put forth his best season to date in leading Lehigh to a perfect league record and NCAA Tournament berth as a senior in 2021. Spence was named an honorable mention All-American by three outlets following the season (USILA, Inside Lacrosse Media and USA Lacrosse Magazine). He finished with a 9.83 goals against average and 56.0 save percentage – good for 15th and 14th in the nation, respectively.
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Sisselberger, Spence and the Mountain Hawks are set to open their season on Saturday, Feb. 12 at NJIT. Gametime is set for 11:30 a.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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