BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Villanova men's lacrosse closed its non-conference schedule on Tuesday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex, falling 14-7 to the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in the team's opening night game of the year.
David Link and Dan Martin each contributed a goal and assist for Villanova (3-5) while Nolan Sabel added a pair of helpers. Kessy Cox, Daniel Flaim (first of the year), Ryan Martin, Jake Melchionni and Gavin Michener all added a goal as Nick Lucchesi and Luke Raymond each contributed an assist.
Anthony Wilson made 15 saves in his first appearance of the year, Beau Kemler scooped up a team-best five ground balls, George Glomb won eight faceoffs and senior LSM Julian Glantz picked up his first career ground ball.
It was the first action of the year for Flaim and Wilson in addition to Aidan Haggerty and Matt Swirbalus, while freshmen Lachlan Moffatt and Ryan O'Connor each saw extended action.
The Mountain Hawks got the game's first three goals to prompt an early Villanova timeout, then Cox put the 'Cats on the board with a lefty snipe off an assist from Lucchesi. Lehigh scored two more after that before Link wrapped around the crease for VU's second goal, but a full-field score against the 10-man ride for the home side made it 6-2 after one.
Period two saw just a pair of goals in the entire 15 minutes, starting with a Lehigh tally at 12:39 before Martin buried one with his right hand off a Sabel feed. The final 11 minutes of the half went by without scores from either side, meaning it was a 7-3 lead for the Mountain Hawks after 30 minutes of action.
The third saw a Lehigh goal to start before Melchionni converted a pole goal from a low angle as Link became VU's first multi-point scorer with the assist. The Mountain Hawks finished out the period on a four-score run for a 12-4 edge after three.
Lehigh was on the board first in the final quarter, then the younger Martin brother hit paydirt in the fourth frame as a gritty team ground ball in the middle of the field led to a Sabel feed to a cutting R. Martin for the sophomore's second career score. Michener hit a stepdown a few minutes later, then Flaim converted on the man-up but it wasn't enough as the 'Cats fell 14-7.
UP NEXT: Villanova now turns its attention to conference play, preparing to visit the St. John's Red Storm next Saturday, March 28 at 1:00 p.m. for the BIG EAST lidlifter.
