April 23, 2010

EASTON, Pa. - The No. 19 Lafayette men's lacrosse team will have a lot on the line Saturday night, with bragging rights and Patriot League Tournament seeding hanging in the balance in its annual meeting with archrival Lehigh.

Lafayette comes into the contest 8-4 overall and 3-2 in the Patriot League coming off a dramatic 15-14 loss to Army on Tuesday night.

One year ago, Lafayette defeated Lehigh in a bittersweet moment for the Leopards, as it entered the game needing a two-goal victory for a Patriot League tournament berth.

With the one goal win, Lafayette, Army and Lehigh were tied and goal differential decided the Black Knights earned the final spot in the tournament.

This time around, the Leopards have already clinched a league tournament berth and with a win over the Mountain Hawks, locks up the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

With a loss, Lafayette will finish either third or fourth, depending on the outcome of the Colgate vs. Bucknell game.

The Leopards will continue to rely on its unselfish and balanced attack that has been the success of the season. Seven Leopards have scored 10 or more goals led by co-captain Steve Serling's 32 and Tom Perini's 28 goals through 12 games.

Lehigh comes to College Hill riding the momentum of an identical 15-14 outcome, only a victory over No. 9 Villanova on Tuesday night. Freshman Dante Fantoni, Lehigh's leading scorer, capped off a four-goal performance with his score at the 1:24 mark of the second OT to lift Lehigh to a victory over the Wildcats. The Mountain Hawks have already been eliminated from postseason play.

Saturday night's game will be available live on LSN All-Access, with LSN's Dan Mowdy and Shawn Langen with the call beginning at 6:55 p.m.