After starting out 3-0, the UMass Minutemen have trickled away from the spotlight and lost their last four games. MOst recently, they dropped their Colonial Athletic Association opener to Penn State 7-5.
Their most noticeable win of 2013 so far was their one goal win over the North Carolina Tar Heels back in mid February. Things have changed a lot since then. Senior attackman Kyle Smith is leading the way for UMass with 17 points (11G, 6A). He is tied with fellow attackman JuniorConnor Mooney who has 12 goals and 5 assists.
Will Manny has been out with a hand injury that forced him to sit out for a few weeks. He returned to play against Penn State but only recorded two assists. I’m sure when he gets back to full strength he will make a huge impact for the Minutemen club.
Zach Oliveri has made 85 stopes on the year so far in cage, posting a .586 save percentage.
The Mountainhawk attack duo of DiMaria and Fantoni combined for 60 points so far this season. Getting in on the mix is teammate and attackman Dan Taylor. The Sophomore out of Alberta has 26 points (15G, 11A) by himself.
Matt Poillon has seen action in five of Lehigh’s eight games and has made 53 saves on 94 shots. Griffin Farha, the senior from Potomac, Md got the nod against Air Force, VMI and Penn, posting a 1-2 record and stopping 25 shots.
This will be the first time UMass and Lehigh meet on a lacrosse field. Mountainhawks, coming off their first Patriot Legue victory with a 10-6 triumph of Army, are averaging 11 goals a game. If the Minutemen can put up 13+ goals, they may be able to pull this one out of their hats.
Fans can catch the game at Lehigh starting at 6pm tonight or on ESPNU.
