Lehigh Heads To Merrimack For First Road Trip Of 2023

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Soccer
9/5/2023 2:23:00 PM

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh takes to the highway for the primary time in 2023 because the Mountain Hawks make their first-ever go to to North Andover, Mass., to face Merrimack Saturday within the Warriors’ dwelling opener. The Mountain Hawks wish to bounce again from a 38-10 opening-day loss to Villanova, a sport wherein three first-half Lehigh turnovers led to 21 Villanova factors because the Wildcats constructed a 31-3 halftime lead. Lehigh performed Villanova evenly within the second half, scoring its first landing of the 12 months on a seven-yard go from sophomore Brayten Silver to junior gaige garcia. Senior linebacker Mike DeNucci led the protection with seven tackles, whereas senior cornerback Donovan Lassiter picked off a 3rd quarter go for Lehigh’s lone takeaway.

The Kevin Cahill Period began with an aggressive gamble that paid off. Villanova received the coin toss and elected to obtain, however the Mountain Hawks had sophomore kicker Nick Garrido try a shock onside kick to start the sport, with junior Michael McCormick recovering for Lehigh. The profitable onside kick was the primary for Lehigh since Courtney Jarvis recovered a Jake Peery onside kick in a 24-21 win over Liberty at Goodman Stadium on Sept. 24, 2011.

Brayten Silver accomplished 23 passes towards Villanova and did a superb job spreading the ball round. Silbor accomplished passes to 9 completely different receivers, with 4 gamers notching their first profession reception. Sophomore Geoffrey JamielLehigh’s main receiver in 2022, led the best way with six catches, whereas sophomore tight finish Nick Williams added 4 receptions. Senior Connor Kennedy and junior gaige garcia each hauled in three passes and seniors Eric Johnson and Jack DiPietro each caught two. Junior Dylan McFaddensophomore Martin Laham and first-year Mason Humphrey all made their first profession catches towards the Wildcats.

Regardless of having almost half the roster of their first or second years of eligibility, Lehigh does return a superb quantity of beginning expertise. Seven Mountain Hawks made their first profession begins towards Villanova. On offense, quarterback Brayten Silver and tight finish Nick Williams had been first time starters. Defensively, Lehigh had 5 gamers begin for the primary time: linemen Matt Spatny and TJ Burkelinebacker Tyler Ochojskiand defensive backs Javin Adderley and Nick Peltekian.

Not solely is Lehigh taking part in its first highway sport of the 2023 season, however the Mountain Hawks are making their first-ever go to to Merrimack in soccer. Lehigh shall be seeking to cease a latest string of setbacks of their first highway conferences towards opponents. The Mountain Hawks are 4-5 of their first highway conferences towards a selected opponent courting again to the 2010 season, however have misplaced 4 straight since beating Central Connecticut State within the first assembly in Connecticut in 2012. Lehigh misplaced its first go to to Sacred Coronary heart in 2019, maiden visits to Stony Brook and Wagner in 2017 and its first sport at James Madison in 2015. The Mountain Hawks performed 4 first-time-on-the-road video games in 2010 and 2011, defeating Drake (2010), Northern Iowa (2010 playoffs) and Monmouth (2011) earlier than dropping to North Dakota State within the 2011 quarterfinals.

Merrimack opened its season with a 42-20 loss to No. 5 Holy Cross. The Warriors led 17-14 at halftime however gave up 4 of Jordan Fuller’s 5 touchdowns within the second half because the Crusaders rallied to win. Tyvon Edmonds ran for 85 yards and a landing, whereas quarterback Gavin McCusker threw for 176 and rushed for 51 extra plus a landing. Merrimack gave up 432 yards of offense, together with 242 on the bottom to the defending Patriot League champions. The Warriors had been 8-3 final season and went 6-1 within the NEC. Merrimack’s 2022 losses got here towards Holy Cross, Harvard (in additional time) and within the season finale towards Saint Francis (Pa.).

Lehigh and Merrimack will meet for simply the second time. The Mountain Hawks received the primary assembly on Sept. 28, 2019 by a 10-3 rating. Merrimack is in its first 12 months as a full-time member of the Northeast Convention after finishing the four-year reclassification interval. The Warriors moved up from Division II to Division I FCS in 2019-20 after beforehand solely competing in Division I in males’s and ladies’s ice hockey.
Lehigh has a restricted historical past towards the present members of the Northeast Convention. The league has undergone adjustments in recent times, with Merrimack and Stonehill reclassifying to Division I in addition to the merger of the 2 LIU campuses. Lehigh has confronted Central Connecticut State 5 occasions within the final 25 years. General, the Brown and White are 13-4 all-time towards present NEC members. Lehigh final confronted NEC opposition in 2019 because the Mountain Hawks defeated Merrimack and misplaced to Saint Francis and Sacred Coronary heart.

Saturday’s sport kicks off simply after 4 p.m. from Duane Stadium in North Andover, Mass. The sport shall be broadcast on NESN+ and NEC Entrance Row, with audio protection on Fox Sports activities Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM in Easton and LVFoxSports.com starting at 3 p.m.

Lehigh returns to Goodman Stadium subsequent Saturday to host the Cornell Massive Pink on Household Day, introduced by PSECU. Cornell visits Goodman Stadium for the primary time since 2008 and Lehigh will look to avenge a 19-15 loss in Ithaca, N.Y. final season. The sport would be the first of two straight for the Mountain Hawks towards Ivy League opponents. Recreation time is about for midday.

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