Lehigh University Athletics
Two Mountain Hawks Earn Preseason All-League Honors, Lehigh Picked Second
1/22/2025 2:02:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh men's lacrosse had two players land on the preseason All-Patriot League team while the Mountain Hawks were picked to finish second, as announced Wednesday afternoon by the league.Â
Junior defenseman Richard Checo and senior midfielder Dakota Eierman were both named to the all-league team. Checo earns his second honor of the day after earning third team USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-America honors.
Checo is a two-time first-team All-Patriot League honoree, racking up 106 ground balls and 102 caused turnovers, the second most in program history. Last season, the Oakton, Va., native finished with a team-high 48 caused turnovers and 62 ground balls. Checo's 2.82 caused turnovers per game were the second-most in NCAA Division I men's lacrosse last season. He tallied multiple caused turnovers in 12 games for the Mountain Hawks in 2024.Â
Eierman had a breakout season last season, finishing fifth in scoring with 24 points. He tallied 18 goals and six assists. Eierman registered a point in 12 of Lehigh's 16 games last season. The Kent Island, Md., native finished with four hat tricks, including a hat trick in the 11-10 win over Boston University in the Patriot League Championship.Â
In addition to being picked second in the preseason poll with 100 points, Lehigh received one first-place vote. The Mountain Hawks are the reigning Patriot League champions after downing Boston University 11-10 in the title game last season. Junior attackman Andrew Kelly returns as Lehigh's top scorer, registering 40 points last season with 24 goals and 16 assists.Â
The Mountain Hawks host Rutgers in the season opener on Feb. 1 at 12 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex.Â
2025 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Attack: Jackson Eicher, Army West Point, Sr.
Attack: Connor Davis, Bucknell, Sr.
Attack: Rory Connor, Colgate, Sr.
Attack: Matt Minicus, Loyola Maryland, Jr.
Midfielder: Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Jr.
Midfielder: Hunter Drouin, Colgate, Jr.
Midfielder: Dakota Eierman, Lehigh, Sr.
Midfielder: Jack Flaherty, Navy, Jr.
Defense: AJ Pilate, Army West Point, Sr.
Defense: Aidan Murnane, Colgate, Sr.
Defense: Richard Checo, Lehigh, Jr.
Defense: Remi Reynolds, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
Goalkeeper: Matt LaCombe, Colgate, Sr.
Faceoff Specialist: Will Coletti, Army West Point, Sr.
Long-Stick Midfielder: Max Yates, Colgate, Sr.
Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder: Christian Mazur, Army West Point, Sr.
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2025 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Army West Point – 125 (14 first-place votes)
Lehigh – 100 (1)
Colgate – 95 (3)
Boston University – 86
Navy – 72
Loyola – 69
Bucknell – 49
Lafayette –35
Holy Cross – 17
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Junior defenseman Richard Checo and senior midfielder Dakota Eierman were both named to the all-league team. Checo earns his second honor of the day after earning third team USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-America honors.
Checo is a two-time first-team All-Patriot League honoree, racking up 106 ground balls and 102 caused turnovers, the second most in program history. Last season, the Oakton, Va., native finished with a team-high 48 caused turnovers and 62 ground balls. Checo's 2.82 caused turnovers per game were the second-most in NCAA Division I men's lacrosse last season. He tallied multiple caused turnovers in 12 games for the Mountain Hawks in 2024.Â
Eierman had a breakout season last season, finishing fifth in scoring with 24 points. He tallied 18 goals and six assists. Eierman registered a point in 12 of Lehigh's 16 games last season. The Kent Island, Md., native finished with four hat tricks, including a hat trick in the 11-10 win over Boston University in the Patriot League Championship.Â
In addition to being picked second in the preseason poll with 100 points, Lehigh received one first-place vote. The Mountain Hawks are the reigning Patriot League champions after downing Boston University 11-10 in the title game last season. Junior attackman Andrew Kelly returns as Lehigh's top scorer, registering 40 points last season with 24 goals and 16 assists.Â
The Mountain Hawks host Rutgers in the season opener on Feb. 1 at 12 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex.Â
2025 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Attack: Jackson Eicher, Army West Point, Sr.
Attack: Connor Davis, Bucknell, Sr.
Attack: Rory Connor, Colgate, Sr.
Attack: Matt Minicus, Loyola Maryland, Jr.
Midfielder: Evan Plunkett, Army West Point, Jr.
Midfielder: Hunter Drouin, Colgate, Jr.
Midfielder: Dakota Eierman, Lehigh, Sr.
Midfielder: Jack Flaherty, Navy, Jr.
Defense: AJ Pilate, Army West Point, Sr.
Defense: Aidan Murnane, Colgate, Sr.
Defense: Richard Checo, Lehigh, Jr.
Defense: Remi Reynolds, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
Goalkeeper: Matt LaCombe, Colgate, Sr.
Faceoff Specialist: Will Coletti, Army West Point, Sr.
Long-Stick Midfielder: Max Yates, Colgate, Sr.
Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder: Christian Mazur, Army West Point, Sr.
Â
2025 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Army West Point – 125 (14 first-place votes)
Lehigh – 100 (1)
Colgate – 95 (3)
Boston University – 86
Navy – 72
Loyola – 69
Bucknell – 49
Lafayette –35
Holy Cross – 17
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