Aug. 8, 2005

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh head coach Dean Koski has announced the 2005 Mountain Hawks schedule. In 2005, Coach Koski hopes to continue the team's school and Patriot League record of nine consecutive winning seasons. Not surprisingly, the road to a tenth consecutive winning season and third NCAA tournament appearance in six seasons will be difficult. The Mountain Hawks will again have to face a tough schedule which includes a pair of 2004 NCAA tournament teams, one conference champion, and one conference runner-up.

The Mountain Hawks have a rough non-conference schedule that starts on September 2, as Lehigh visits Ivy League opponent Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. The non-conference schedule also includes home contests against 2004 America East Conference runner-up Binghamton on September 17 and NCAA tournament qualifier George Washington on September 28. The Mountain Hawks will also travel to Philadelphia to play Big East member Villanova on October 12.

Lehigh's conference schedule begins on September 23, at home, against the Navy Midshipmen. Then on October 1, the conference schedule kicks into high gear as the Mountain Hawks last nine contests consist of six Patriot League opponents, with four of the six league games being played on the road.

This demanding Patriot League stretch includes road games against Holy Cross on October 1, 2004 league champion American on October 8, Bucknell on October 22, and finally against archrival Lafayette on November 5.

Lehigh opens its 2005 slate on Friday, September 2, when the Mountain Hawks visit Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y.