Photo by: Matt Smith
Lehigh Squares Off Against Johns Hopkins in First Round of NCAA Tournament
5/10/2024 2:17:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh men's lacrosse will make its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance when the Mountain Hawks face No. 3 seed Johns Hopkins in the first round on Sunday, May 12 at 12 p.m. at Homewood Field in Baltimore. Tickets can be purchased here while others can watch on ESPNU.Â
Lehigh earned the automatic qualifier spot in the tournament after winning the Patriot League Championship, defeating Boston University 11-10 on May 5. The Mountain Hawks trailed by three goals in the championship game on two separate occasions. Down 10-7 with 14:45 remaining, the Mountain Hawks scored the game's final four goals and held the Terriers off the board to capture the victory. Quinn Armstrong netted the game-winning goal with 1:29 remaining after Grant Rodny found an open Armstrong, who had his hands free and was able to put his shot right on target.Â
This will mark Lehigh's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2021 after earning the automatic qualifying spot when the Mountain Hawks faced Rutgers and suffered a 12-5 defeat. Lehigh is searching for its first win in the NCAA Tournament. Sunday's game will mark the 36th meeting between the two teams and the first since 1925. Lehigh is 12-23 all-time against the Blue Jays.
The Mountain Hawks have won six straight games with three of their last four games being decided by one goal. Lehigh has played in 11 games this season that have been decided between one or two goals, holding an 8-3 record in those games.
The Mountain Hawks enter Sunday's game with an overall record of 10-6. They have found a way to win as of late after starting the season off 4-6. Lehigh's six-game win streak is tied for the sixth-longest winning streak in the NCAA. The Blue Jays earned an at-large bid after suffering a 10-7 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten semifinals.
Sophomore defensemen Richard Checo and Luke McAuliffe anchor a Lehigh defense that has limited five teams to single-digit goals. Checo continues to cause havoc on opposing offenses, recording 45 caused turnovers this season. Checo earned third team All-America honors from USA Lacrosse on May 9. In two seasons played, Checo has caused 99 turnovers. He needs just one more to become the second Mountain Hawk to record at least 100 caused turnovers as Craig Chick '19 holds the NCAA and program record with 160.Â
McAuliffe has had a breakout season in the brown and white. Last season, McAulife played in 13 games, recording four ground balls and four caused turnovers. This season, he has started and played in all 16 games and is covering the team's best offensive weapon. McAuliffe was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP after recording a career-high of five ground balls while causing a turnover in the championship game. McAuliffe has caused 14 turnovers this season, which is the second-most on the team.Â
Lehigh's offense is led by captain Scott Cole, who has racked up 47 points this season (39 G, 8A). Cole made history in the championship game as he became Lehigh's all-time leading goal scorer (129 career goals). Cole came into the game needing just one goal to pass Mark Duncan '98 and Dan Taylor '15 for the record, and he did just that. Cole's goal also came at an important time as it was the first goal scored in Lehigh's 4-0 run to end the game.
Andrew Kelly and Armstrong are right behind Cole in scoring. Kelly has put up 40 points after scoring 24 goals and recording a team-high of 16 assists. Kelly had four points in the title game (2G, 2A) and has recorded multiple points in Lehigh's last 11 games. Armstrong is another player who is getting hot at the right time. He has scored 39 points (31G, 8A). He has recorded a hat trick in five of Lehigh's last six games.Â
Rodny and Dakota Eierman have also stepped up this season. Rodny is fourth on the team in scoring with 26 points (19G, 7A). Eierman has recorded 26 points (18 G, 6A). Eierman also scored the first hat trick of his career in the championship game.Â
After winning 2-of-8 attempts at the stripe against Army on March 16, junior faceoff specialist Sean Dow has been on a tear, winning 133-of-204 attempts (65.1%). Dow also earned a spot on the Patriot League's All-Tournament team after winning 61% of his battles.Â
In net, senior goalkeeper Nick Pecora has recorded a 51.8% save percentage. He has recorded double-digit saves in 14 of Lehigh's 16 games.Â
The Blue Jays are led by Jacob Angelus, who has scored 59 points (22G, 37A). Garrett Degnon has scored a team-high of 42 goals. Chayse Ierlan has been strong in net, holding a 56.3% save percentage.Â
If Lehigh wins, the Mountain Hawks will play the winner of UVa/Saint Joseph's on May 19.Â
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Lehigh earned the automatic qualifier spot in the tournament after winning the Patriot League Championship, defeating Boston University 11-10 on May 5. The Mountain Hawks trailed by three goals in the championship game on two separate occasions. Down 10-7 with 14:45 remaining, the Mountain Hawks scored the game's final four goals and held the Terriers off the board to capture the victory. Quinn Armstrong netted the game-winning goal with 1:29 remaining after Grant Rodny found an open Armstrong, who had his hands free and was able to put his shot right on target.Â
This will mark Lehigh's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2021 after earning the automatic qualifying spot when the Mountain Hawks faced Rutgers and suffered a 12-5 defeat. Lehigh is searching for its first win in the NCAA Tournament. Sunday's game will mark the 36th meeting between the two teams and the first since 1925. Lehigh is 12-23 all-time against the Blue Jays.
The Mountain Hawks have won six straight games with three of their last four games being decided by one goal. Lehigh has played in 11 games this season that have been decided between one or two goals, holding an 8-3 record in those games.
The Mountain Hawks enter Sunday's game with an overall record of 10-6. They have found a way to win as of late after starting the season off 4-6. Lehigh's six-game win streak is tied for the sixth-longest winning streak in the NCAA. The Blue Jays earned an at-large bid after suffering a 10-7 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten semifinals.
Sophomore defensemen Richard Checo and Luke McAuliffe anchor a Lehigh defense that has limited five teams to single-digit goals. Checo continues to cause havoc on opposing offenses, recording 45 caused turnovers this season. Checo earned third team All-America honors from USA Lacrosse on May 9. In two seasons played, Checo has caused 99 turnovers. He needs just one more to become the second Mountain Hawk to record at least 100 caused turnovers as Craig Chick '19 holds the NCAA and program record with 160.Â
McAuliffe has had a breakout season in the brown and white. Last season, McAulife played in 13 games, recording four ground balls and four caused turnovers. This season, he has started and played in all 16 games and is covering the team's best offensive weapon. McAuliffe was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP after recording a career-high of five ground balls while causing a turnover in the championship game. McAuliffe has caused 14 turnovers this season, which is the second-most on the team.Â
Lehigh's offense is led by captain Scott Cole, who has racked up 47 points this season (39 G, 8A). Cole made history in the championship game as he became Lehigh's all-time leading goal scorer (129 career goals). Cole came into the game needing just one goal to pass Mark Duncan '98 and Dan Taylor '15 for the record, and he did just that. Cole's goal also came at an important time as it was the first goal scored in Lehigh's 4-0 run to end the game.
Andrew Kelly and Armstrong are right behind Cole in scoring. Kelly has put up 40 points after scoring 24 goals and recording a team-high of 16 assists. Kelly had four points in the title game (2G, 2A) and has recorded multiple points in Lehigh's last 11 games. Armstrong is another player who is getting hot at the right time. He has scored 39 points (31G, 8A). He has recorded a hat trick in five of Lehigh's last six games.Â
Rodny and Dakota Eierman have also stepped up this season. Rodny is fourth on the team in scoring with 26 points (19G, 7A). Eierman has recorded 26 points (18 G, 6A). Eierman also scored the first hat trick of his career in the championship game.Â
After winning 2-of-8 attempts at the stripe against Army on March 16, junior faceoff specialist Sean Dow has been on a tear, winning 133-of-204 attempts (65.1%). Dow also earned a spot on the Patriot League's All-Tournament team after winning 61% of his battles.Â
In net, senior goalkeeper Nick Pecora has recorded a 51.8% save percentage. He has recorded double-digit saves in 14 of Lehigh's 16 games.Â
The Blue Jays are led by Jacob Angelus, who has scored 59 points (22G, 37A). Garrett Degnon has scored a team-high of 42 goals. Chayse Ierlan has been strong in net, holding a 56.3% save percentage.Â
If Lehigh wins, the Mountain Hawks will play the winner of UVa/Saint Joseph's on May 19.Â
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