April 27, 2012

2012 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Tournament Central

HAMILTON, N.Y. - The top two seeds advanced in the 2012 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Tournament, as top seed Colgate logged a 14-9 victory over No. 4 Bucknell and second-seeded Lehigh defeated No. 3 Army 13-7 at Andy Kerr Stadium Friday night.

Colgate junior attackman Peter Baum broke the tournament single-game record with nine points, and tied the bracket's single-contest mark with five goals. Baum was a first-team All-League selection earlier in the week and was named one of the League's three official candidates for the 2012 Tewaaraton Trophy just two days before the tournament.

The Raiders, who moved on to the championship game for the second straight year and fourth time overall, are seeking their second tournament title. They also won in 2008.

Lehigh's win over Army was its first in the Patriot League Tournament. The Mountain Hawks improved to 1-3 overall in the tournament and are playing for their first tournament championship. Lehigh shared the Patriot League championship in 1999 with Army, when there was no tournament.

In an odd twist, the teams that won Friday night were the two that did not do well on face-offs. Colgate won 7-of-25 draws in game one, while Lehigh was 6-of-24 at the `X' in the night cap.

No. 1 Colgate 14, No. 4 Bucknell 9
Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. - It's the type of performance one would expect from a Tewaaraton Trophy candidate.

Junior attackman Peter Baum scored a Patriot League Tournament single-game record nine points and tied the tournament's single-contest mark of five goals as top-seeded Colgate (12-2) held off No. 4 Bucknell 14-9 in the first semifinal of the 2012 four-team bracket Friday at Andy Kerr Stadium.

The Raiders advanced to the tournament's championship for the second year in a row and fourth time overall, and will take on No. 2 seed Lehigh, which defeated third-seeded Army in the other semifinal.

Colgate set a program record with 12 wins under first-year head coach Mike Murphy.

Four of Baum's goals were unassisted, with his first coming at the 9:13 mark of the first quarter to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead. It was part of a wild first 15 minutes that saw the teams trade goals back and forth and head into the second frame tied at 5-5.

Baum finished the first quarter with a pair of goals and two assists. He netted the hat track when his unassisted tally at the 12:22 mark of the second quarter put the Raiders up 7-5. It was part of a 3-0 showing for Colgate in the second, and the Raiders had an 8-5 lead at halftime.

Todd Heritage found the back of the net 4:17 into the third quarter to bring Bucknell (9-7) within 8-6, but Brendon McCann scored the first of his two goals in the game less than a minute later to re-establish Colgate's three-goal lead.

The Bison replied with two straight goals, first a Billy Eisenreich strike with the extra man, and then with Nick Gantsoudes' third of the game at the 1:32 mark. Bucknell trailed 9-8.

Baum struck again for Colgate, scoring with one second left in the third quarter on a great individual effort. Matt Baker added another Raider tally at the 12:15 mark of the fourth quarter and Colgate had an 11-8 advantage.

Billy Mattimore scored with 9:50 left in the fourth to bring the Bison back within two at 11-9, but Colgate scored the game's last three goals to put the contest away.

Baum's nine points eclipsed the old tournament single-game mark of seven scored by former Raider Brendan Corp in 2007. Corp still owns the two-game tournament record of 11 points, but that hold seems precarious entering Sunday's championship.

Eight different Raiders combined for their 14 goals, with Jeff Ledwick joining Baum and McCann with a multiple-tally effort.

Gantsoudes and Eisenreich tied for the Bucknell lead with three goals apiece. Peter Burke scored a goal with two assists for three points, while freshman David Dickson pitched in a pair of assists.

Jared Madison picked up the win in net for Colgate, making 10 saves to improve to 12-2.

Kyle Feeney suffered the loss and fell to 8-7 on the season. He stopped seven shots but allowed 11 goals in 51:45 of action. Sam Grinberg played the other 8:15 with no saves and three goals against.

No. 2 Lehigh 13, No. 3 Army 7
Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. - Lehigh (13-2) became the second Patriot League team in as many games to set a program record for victories as the second-seeded Mountain Hawks paired balanced scoring with a stifling defense in a 13-7 victory over No. 3 Army (7-7) in the second semifinal of the 2012 League Tournament Friday night at Andy Kerr Stadium.

Nine Lehigh players found the back of the net, led by Adam Johnston's three goals and Dante Fantoni's five points (2g, 3a).

Lehigh opened the game on a 5-1 run and never trailed. Brian Hess scored unassisted at the 11:29 mark of the first to give the Mountain Hawks the early advantage. Army replied when Alex Carros scored off a Conor Hayes feed to tie the game 1:20 later.

The Mountain Hawks rolled off four straight goals, including back-to-back markers from Johnston, to go up 5-1 before Hayes scored his first of two on the night to bring Army within 5-2 after the first 15 minutes.

Lehigh extended its lead to 7-2 after Patrick Corbett scored off a David DiMaria feed, and Cameron Lao-Gosney bent the twine unassisted with 8:16 left in the first half.

DiMaria finished with a game-high three assists.

Garrett Thul logged his only goal of the game a minute later to bring Army within four at 7-3, but the Black Knights could not sustain any momentum. Kyle Sheridan scored with 5:27 on the clock, and the Mountain Hawks settled for an 8-3 halftime lead.

Roman Lao-Gosney joined his twin brother on the scoresheet with his unassisted goal 2:53 into the third.

Alex Van Krevel scored the first of his two tallies on the night to cut Lehigh's lead to 9-4 with 9:15 left in the third, but again Lehigh had a reply. Corbett's second of the game came off a Fantoni pass and Lehigh moved ahead 10-4.

The teams traded goals the rest of the way, setting up the 13-7 final.

Lehigh's defense did an excellent job holding Army's offense at bay. Thul, a first-team All-Leaguer and a Tewaaraton Trophy candidate, was limited to the lone goal and two points. The Mountain Hawks never let Army put together a run. The Black Knights did not log consecutive goals all night.

Goalkeeper of the Year Matthew Poillon made four saves and earned the victory to improve to 13-2. He played 55:42 and was relieved for the final 4:18 by Griffin Farha.

Senior Zach Palmieri (7-7) suffered the loss after making seven saves for the Black Knights.

Army has one more contest remaining, as it heads to nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins next Saturday at 2 p.m. The contest will air nationally on ESPNU.