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Next game:
in Bucknell
03/14/2021 | 12 o’clock
BETHLEHEM, PA. – For the first time in the history of the program, the Lehigh men’s lacrosse team defeated Loyola and it came off convincingly when the Mountain Hawks No. 13 led the Greyhounds No. 10 at Ulrich Sports 10: 6 on Saturday afternoon at Ulrich Sports Complex. The biggest story was junior faceoff specialist Mike Sisselberger, who won 16 of 19 on the afternoon, and senior goalkeeper James Spence, who made a career high with 17 saves. After Loyola even pulled by two, Lehigh responded with six of the next seven goals in the middle quarter to take an 8-3 lead and didn’t want to look back.
“Beating Loyola means a lot,” said Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese. “I have so much respect for this program, for coach Toomey and his coaches. They are so well trained, they are so disciplined in what they do and how they approach the game that you really need to be buttoned and you have to make sure your dates are fine to compete with. And I thought our guys did a really good job this week. This was a great game and they got a great win against a great program. “
The Mountain Hawks carried out a typically strong Loyola attack with only six goals, the fewest goals the greyhounds have in a regular season game since March 12, 2016 (when they also scored six against Duke). It was also the fewest goals Loyola has ever scored in a regular season Patriot League competition.
Saturday marked Lehigh’s first win against a top 10 national opponent since beating Bucknell No. 9 in April 2013.
Sisselberger’s performance came mostly against Bailey Savio, who was a third All-American team in 2020 after winning 68.7 percent of his faceoffs. Against Sisselberger, Savio was only 1 out of 12. For a second week in a row, Sisselberger collected 10 groundballs and scored an important goal.
“The specialty positions are those that we place high on our program,” said Cassese. “That was very good to see today. Mike Sisselberger was exceptional. He gave us possession after possession after possession and really allowed us to wear down their defenses. Their defenses are solid from the ground up and I thought they started a few Making mistakes and mishaps. ” in the fourth quarter. I thought a lot had to do with Mikey Sisselberger continuing to win and give us property. ”
How about Mike Sisselberger’s day ?! 16-of-19 against AND a goal for a second game in a row! pic.twitter.com/boxeMEyzay
– Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) March 6, 2021
After parrying in the first quarter, Spence has scored 16 points in the last three games.
“James Spence stood tall,” said Cassese. “We played a very good defense in front of him so we might be able to give up a few shots with a lower percentage than that.” [Loyola is] get used to. James devoured this. When they made it a three-goal game in the fourth quarter I thought James stole a few and it could very easily have gotten closer, but James rejected them and our defenses rejected them. ”
What a day for James Spence. Career high 17 parades and MANY unbelievable stops! pic.twitter.com/VC6m2uU5cU
– Lehigh Lacrosse (@LehighLacrosse) March 6, 2021
Prior to Spence, Junior Anthony Tangredi recorded three groundballs and three caused sales while making Loyola’s leading point-getter Aidan Olmstead a single assist.
“Our defense was great today as a unit but their number 19 is a great player and I thought Anthony Tangredi did an excellent job all day,” said Cassese.
Offensively, Junior Tommy Schelling led the Mountain Hawks with five points, while adding career highs at Groundballs (6) and generating sales (2). Junior Cole Kirst scored twice, with five more scoring.
The teams swapped two runs early on before Lehigh’s big run. The Mountain Hawks scored a six-of-seven result in nearly 20 minutes, with Loyola’s only goal being scored from a miss and Kevin Lindley finding a wide open net. However, Lehigh responded with a goal from Christian Mule, who had four seconds left in the first half to take a 5-3 lead.
The Mountain Hawks started the second half with a 3-0 run, with Schelling, Senior Andrew Eichelberger and Sisselberger taking the lead 8-3. The Greyhounds scored three of the next four goals and drew 9:16 within 9: 6, but didn’t score any more (Spence stopped the last four shots).
The final shots were 46-29 in Lehigh’s favor, while the Mountain Hawks had a 49-23 lead on groundballs. Spence’s 17 parades encountered Sam Shafer, who made 11 stops for the greyhounds.
Lehigh will be back in action in eight days when he travels to Bucknell to face the bison. The game time is set to 12 o’clock
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