Lehigh Set to Open Season Against Fairfield on Friday

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks open the 2026 season on Friday, welcoming Fairfield to the Ulrich Sports Complex for a 6 p.m. showdown. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the game was moved to Friday and will be part of a doubleheader, with the women's team facing Saint Joseph's at 3 p.m. The Mountain Hawks will also celebrate Senior Day.

Senior Richard Checo headlines Lehigh's defense entering the season after starting 14 games as a junior in 2025 and causing 45 turnovers. Checo was named an Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-America Honorable Mention and earned a spot on the 2025 Preseason All-Patriot League team. He begins the year with 147 career caused turnovers, just 13 shy of the Division I record. Following the season, Checo collected both Nike All-America and USA All-America honors after totaling 40 ground balls and 45 caused turnovers.

Joining Checo on the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League team is Luke McAuliffe, one of four defensemen selected. McAuliffe started all 15 games during the 2025 season and picked up 24 ground balls on the year and caused 15 turnovers, highlighted by causing five turnovers in the win against Colgate. In 2024, McAuliffe was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP as Lehigh captured the conference title.

On the offensive side of the field, Lehigh returns Luke Winkler and Andrew Kelly. Kelly and Winkler each scored 21 goals for the Mountain Hawks in 2025. Kelly highlighted his season with a four-goal, two-assist performance at Princeton. Winkler scored a season-high five goals in the win over Loyola.

A season ago, Lehigh finished 4-4 in Patriot League play and 5-10 overall. The Mountain Hawks and Fairfield met on Feb. 7, 2025, with Fairfield earning a 10-7 victory. The Stags went 12-3 last season and advanced to the CAA Championship game, where they fell to Drexel.

The Mountain Hawks will open Patriot League play on Saturday, Feb. 28, hosting Bucknell at 11 a.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex.

Up Next
Lehigh will travel to New Rochelle, N.Y., to take on Iona on Tuesday, with the opening draw set for 1 p.m.

Lehigh Set to Open Season Against Fairfield on Friday

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Players Mentioned

Richard Checo

Andrew Kelly

Luke McAuliffe

Luke Winkler

Upcoming Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Fairfield University on February 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Men's Lacrosse at Iona University on February 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Men's Lacrosse at University of Michigan on February 14, 2026

Upcoming Event: Men's Lacrosse at University of Richmond on February 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Bucknell University on February 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Upcoming Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Boston University on March 7, 2026 at 2:30 PM

Upcoming Event: Men's Lacrosse at Loyola University Maryland on March 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Colgate on April 29, 2025 , Loss , 10, to, 14

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Lafayette College on April 25, 2025 , Loss , 7, to, 12

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at Boston University on April 19, 2025 , Loss , 7, to, 12

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Colgate University on April 12, 2025 , Win , 12, to, 9

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at Holy Cross on April 5, 2025 , Win , 10, to, 6

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at No. 4 Princeton University on April 1, 2025 , Loss , 12, to, 17

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Loyola University Maryland on March 29, 2025 , Win , 7, to, 3

Lehigh University Athletics

Lehigh Set to Open Season Against Fairfield on Friday

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Richard Checo

Andrew Kelly

Luke McAuliffe

Luke Winkler

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