BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Holy Cross men's lacrosse team was defeated by Lehigh, 15-4, in the teams' Patriot League opener on Saturday afternoon.
The game was scoreless until 3:29 remaining in the opening quarter, when Lehigh (3-1, 1-0 Patriot League) first jumped onto the board. One minute later, the Mountain Hawks scored again and then finished the first quarter, 3-0, with one second remaining.
Holy Cross (1-3, 0-1 Patriot League) responded seven seconds into the second half, to move the score to 3-1. But the Mountain Hawks scored six goals in ten minutes to take a 9-1 lead. Holy Cross generated offense and scored to close the first half.
In the third quarter, Lehigh added three more goals, 12-2. In the closing 15 minutes, Lehigh scored to lead 13-2. The Crusaders responded with consecutive goals, before the Mountain Hawks closed the game with two more goals, 15-4.
Quarter 1 | HC 0 Lehigh 3
- Tristan Rai scored at 3:29 of the first quarter to start the scoring.
- Lucas Spence tallied two goals (2:29, 0:01).
Quarter 2 | HC 2 Lehigh 9
- Dan O'Connell recorded his first goal of the season seven seconds into the quarter.
- Lehigh scored six goals from five different Mountain Hawks.
- Drew Babiak scored his seventh goal of the season with 1:49 to play in the quarter.
Quarter 3 | HC 2 Lehigh 12
- The Mountain Hawks added three goals.
Quarter 4 | HC 4 Lehigh 15
- Lehigh continued the offense with a goal at 12:24.
- Sean Mullaney scored at 8:57 and was assisted by Rowan Hart
- At 3:33, Holy Cross' Hart scored with an assist from Connor Waldron.
- Lehigh concluded the game with a goal at 1:18.
TALKING POINTS
- For different Crusaders tallied a goal.
- Rowan Hart posted two points on one goal and one assist to lead the Crusaders.
- Matt Farrell and Dan O'Connell paced the team with five ground balls.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Lehigh outshot Holy Cross, 33-27.
- Holy Cross won nine of 22 face offs.
- Each team recorded 19 turnovers.
- Lehigh picked up 44 ground balls and Holy Cross picked up 33.
UP NEXT
Holy Cross will host No. 10 Loyola on March 3 at 12:05 p.m. at Kuzniewski Field.
