Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/27/16
From Press Release
Lehigh head men’s lacrosse coach Kevin Cassese announced the Mountain Hawks’ 2017 schedule on Wednesday, which is highlighted by two teams who advanced to the NCAA Semifinals last season and three who reached the NCAA Quarterfinals. Included on the schedule is defending National Champion North Carolina, who Lehigh will face for the first time since the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The Mountain Hawks will play 14 regular season games, six home and eight on the road, as they vie for their seventh straight Patriot League Tournament appearance.
Also on Lehigh’s nonleague schedule is the program’s first-ever meeting against Jacksonville, along with games against Stony Brook, Princeton and Cornell.
The Mountain Hawks open their season at home on Saturday, Feb. 4 when they host NJIT. Lehigh then hits the road for four straight Saturdays, beginning the following Saturday at Jacksonville then Feb. 18 at the defending National Champion Tar Heels. Lehigh last faced North Carolina in the 2013 NCAA Tournament; the previous time Lehigh and UNC squared off in Chapel Hill, the Mountain Hawks defeated the No. 4 Tar Heels 9-8 on Mar. 4, 2012.
Lehigh opens Patriot League play on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Holy Cross before heading to Colgate on Saturday, Mar. 4. The Mountain Hawks will finally return home on Saturday, Mar. 11 to host Army West Point. Lehigh has faced the Black Knights in the Patriot League Tournament in three of the last five seasons. Next up is the team’s first midweek game, at Stony Brook on Tuesday, Mar. 14, marking Lehigh’s first game at Stony Brook since a thrilling 12-11 win on Apr. 12, 2015.
Lehigh will continue to alternate home and road games the rest of the regular season. The Mountain Hawks return home on Saturday, Mar. 18 to host archrival Lafayette before heading to defending Patriot League regular season champion and National Quarterfinalist Navy the following Saturday.
April begins with a home game on Saturday, Apr. 1 vs. Boston University, a matchup which has seen one-goal games in each of the last two seasons. It will also be Alumni Day. The Mountain Hawks continue the following Saturday (Apr. 8) at Loyola, a team who advanced to the National Semifinals last season. Lehigh and Loyola played a tight, back-and-forth game last season, with the Greyhounds winning, 11-10.
Lehigh wraps up the regular season by hosting Princeton on Tuesday, Apr. 11, heading to Cornell on Saturday, Apr. 15 and welcoming Bucknell on Friday, Apr. 21 for Senior Night.
The Patriot League Tournament begins with the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Apr. 25. The semifinals are set for Friday, Apr. 28 with the championship game on Sunday, the 30th. The semifinals and championship game will be played at the No. 1 seed and regular season champion.
The Mountain Hawks advanced to their sixth straight Patriot League Tournament last season. The season saw three seniors earn All-League honors, while the senior class set the table for an impressive core of youngsters. Among the underclass standouts were freshman long-stick midfielder Craig Chick, the nation’s leader with 37 caused turnovers, and freshman attackman Tristan Rai, who finished the year second on the Mountain Hawks in goals (31) and points (41).
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2017 Lehigh Men’s Lacrosse Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 4 vs. NJIT 1 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11 at Jacksonville 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 18 at North Carolina 1 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 25 at Holy Cross* TBA
Saturday, Mar. 4 at Colgate* 1 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 11 vs. Army West Point* 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 14 at Stony Brook 7 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 18 vs. Lafayette* 1 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 25 at Navy* TBA
Saturday, Apr. 1 vs. Boston University* (Alumni Day) 3 p.m.
Saturday, Apr. 8 at Loyola* 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Apr. 11 vs. Princeton 7 p.m.
Saturday, Apr. 15 at Cornell 1 p.m.
Friday, Apr. 21 vs. Bucknell* (Senior Night) 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Apr. 25 Patriot League Quarterfinals
Friday, Apr. 28 Patriot League Semifinals
Sunday, Apr. 30 Patriot League Championship Game