Feb. 16, 2012
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VILLANOVA, Pa. - The No. 10 Villanova Men's Lacrosse team (0-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) opens their 2012 season this Saturday when they make the short trek to Bethlehem, Pa. to face Lehigh (1-0, 0-0 Patriot League) in the first game of the year. Game time is scheduled for Noon at Ulrich Sport Complex.
The Wildcats return to the turf after another standout season under Corrado, with the squad earning their first ever at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament and reaching their highest ranking at No. 7 in the national polls in 2011.
The No. 10 preseason ranking is the highest in program history while the veteran-laden Wildcats return an astounding 12 upperclassmen on offense, including all six starters from the 2011 squad. Anchored by BIG EAST Preseason Offense Player of the Year Kevin Cunningham (Garden City, N.Y./Kellenberg) along with classmates and fellow All-BIG EAST Preseason honorees Matt Bell (Severna Park, Md./St. Mary's) and Chris Creighton (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep), the 2012 Wildcats are primed for success in the new year.
Villanova's Last Outing: Villanova enters Saturday's contest with a clean slate after scrimmaging Sacred Heart last weekend for their preseason warm-up.
In their last appearance on the turf, Villanova concluded their 2011 slate in the first round of the NCAAââ'¬Ë†Championship, falling to Denver, 13-10, in Denver, Colo. The game marked a significant milestone as the first NCAAââ'¬Ë†Tournament contest to be played west of the Mississippi.
Lehigh's Last Outing: The Mountain Hawks posted an 11-4 victory over St. Joseph's last Saturday in their first game of the season. The team broke a 2-2 tie by scoring seven consecutive goals to run away with the victory, which counted as the season opener for both teams. Freshman goalie Matt Poillon made 13 saves in his collegiate
Mountain Hawk Offense: Adam Johnston leads the team with four goals after posting a solid effort in his first game of the 2012 season, while Brian Hess and David DiMaria are close behind with three points apiece. Five other scorers contributed in the season opener.
Mountain Hawk Defense: With just one game under his belt, freshman goalkeeper Matt Poillon posted 13 saves and allowed only four goals in his collegiate debut. The netminder faced 30 shots and boasts a .765 save percentage after the 11-4 victory.
Last Time vs. the Mountain Hawks (2/19/11): A third-quarter rally prompted by four Villanova scorers made the difference as the Wildcats tallied a 9-8 victory over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. Kevin Cunningham (Garden City, N.Y./Kellenberg) led the team with two goals and two assists while Will Casertano (Millbrook, N.Y./Salisbury School) posted two goals and an assist of his own for the balanced offensive effort.
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