BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh ran into a tough Delaware squad on Tuesday evening and the Mountain Hawks came up on the short end of a 9-2 score versus the No. 14 Blue Hens at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Max Dahlem and Brian Bienemann scored goals for Lehigh who falls to 5-6 overall, while Cam Howard found the back of the net four times for the visitors, who improve to 7-2 with the win.

Lehigh out shot its opponent 42-31, taking at least ten shots in each quarter with a high of 12 in the third. The Mountain Hawks scooped up 28 ground balls on the evening, led by Tom Allen, Stuart Baxter, Max Dahlem, Ricky Cornetta and Eric Spirko with three apiece, while the Blue Hens totaled 31 ground balls as Vincent Giordano and Anthony Ruiz both scooped up four.

The two teams combined for 30 turnovers, while Delaware had a nine to six advantage in face-off wins. Both goal keepers played solid games, with Spirko sending back 13 shots for Lehigh and Blue Hen keeper Tommy Scherr registered 19 saves.

Dahlem netted the game's first score off a feed from Baxter at the 6:37 mark of the opening quarter. Delaware responded with three straight scores though to take a 3-1 lead after the first 15 minutes of play.

Curtis Dickson netted his 29th goal of the season at the 12:03 mark of the second, but Bienemann brought the Brown and White to within two goals with a goal at the 7:20 mark. Giordano and Howard scored back-to-back goals for Delaware and at halftime, Lehigh trailed 6-2.

Howard opened the third quarter with his 13th score of the season to put the Blue Hens up five at 7-2 and Dickson and Howard would add late goals as UD snapped Lehigh's four-game home streak versus non-league foes.

Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese offered his thoughts following the game. "I thought our guys were ready to play. I think they handled the week well coming off an emotional win against St. John's this past weekend. We scored the first goal and had some momentum going there."

He continued, "I thought our guys rode well and our attackmen made plays. We were able to force them (Delaware) into some turnovers but unfortunately could not capitalize on those opportunities. Delaware was able to take advantage however of some of our unforced turnovers."

He concluded, "Delaware is a good team with tremendous athletes and I thought their goal keeper played one heck of a game. We had a game plan coming in on how to play against him, but he's a very talented player and showed that all night."

Lehigh is back in action on Saturday evening when the Mountain Hawks take to the road and head to Easton to face archrival Lafayette. Game time is set for 7:00.

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BETHLEHEM, PA -- Senior Cam Howard accounted for seven points and senior Tom Scherr recorded his second straight stellar performance in goal as the No. 14 ranked University of Delaware shut down Lehigh for a 9-2 non-league men's lacrosse victory Tuesday night at the Ulrich Lacrosse Complex.

Delaware (7-2) held Lehigh scoreless over the final 37 minutes of the game on the way to its second straight victory and continued its dominance over the Mountain Hawks. The Hens have now downed Lehigh 24 straight times since the 1972 season.

Howard scored a season-high four goals and dished out three assists, NCAA goal leader Curtis Dickson netted three goals, and Vincent Giordano scored once and dished out a career-high four assists to pace the offense while Scherr was spectacular in the nets, facing 42 shots, allowing just two goals, and matched a career-high 19 saves.

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2008-03-25