Dartmouth Can’t Hold Halftime Lead in 11-6 Loss to Lehigh

Monday, February 26

Hartford, Conn. / Jessee/Miller Field at Tansill Muldoon Stadium

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

1-2

Lehigh

2-2

Dartmouth

Lehigh

Photo by: Cayla Fernandes

Dartmouth Can’t Hold Halftime Lead in 11-6 Loss to Lehigh

2/26/2024 11:08:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Monday was the Big Green’s second game in three days

By: Justin Lafleur

HARTFORD, Conn. — A strong start saw the Big Green leading 5-3 at the half, but Lehigh went on to score eight of the nine second-half goals to defeat the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team, 11-6, on Monday evening. Senior Henry Bonnie led the offense with three goals for his first-career hat trick. Fifth-year Andrew Johnston and junior Griffin O'Neil combined for seven caused turnovers to lead the defense. Monday's neutral-site contest was played at Trinity College.

With the loss, Dartmouth falls to 1-2. Lehigh improves to 2-2.

"Definitely credit to Lehigh for their second-half performance," said Dartmouth head coach Sean Kirwan. "For us, I'm very proud of the effort for 60 minutes. Our attention to detail will be something that we need to clean up on all sides of the ball. As the game went along, it felt like we were beating ourselves a little bit, but at the same time, definitely proud of the effort that we showed on a quick turnaround."

Junior Colin McGill and sophomores Hopper Zappitello and Cameron Brown all scored goals, to go along with Bonnie's three markers. In the end, Lehigh goalkeeper Nick Pecora stood tall, stopping 15 of the 21 shots he saw.

Johnston finished with four caused turnovers to tie a career high, while O'Neil's three causes were also a career high. He is now up to a team-leading seven caused turnovers through three games this season.

Fifth-year Mitchell Myers impressed facing off, winning 11-of-19 in the circle with five groundballs. Junior Joe Azelby tallied four groundballs, most since his rookie season, and a caused turnover.

"Henry Bonnie and our defense speaks to urgency," said Kirwan. "Henry is playing with a senior urgency that we need a little bit more of on the offensive side. And then our defense played with pace, urgency and toughness. I was really proud of that defensive effort. I thought Coach Whitcher had a great gameplan in place, and our guys executed not only succinctly, but with a lot of tenacity, which was awesome to see."

Both goalkeepers stole the show in the first quarter — Dartmouth first-year Ryan Williamson and Lehigh's Pecora — with them combining to stop seven-of-nine shots sent their way. Pecora made four saves, with Williamson tallying three. Bonnie opened the scoring at the 7:14 mark before Giovanni Procaccini evened the score in transition following a Pecora save.

The Mountain Hawks took their first lead 58 seconds into the second quarter, but the Big Green answered with four of the final five first-half goals behind four different goal scorers. Bonnie's second gave Dartmouth the lead back at 4-3 with 10:59 on the second-quarter clock. McGill made it 5-3 at the 6:25 mark behind a crafty finish coming around the crease.

Check out this goal from Colin McGill earlier tonight 👀#SCTop10 | @ESPNAssignDesk pic.twitter.com/EhFG3CKjb3
— Dartmouth Men's Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) February 27, 2024

However, that proved to be Dartmouth's final goal for more than 34 minutes. The third quarter saw reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Scott Cole score four goals to put Lehigh ahead 7-5 heading to the fourth.

The Mountain Hawks' run reached 8-0 late in the fourth before Bonnie's third of the game at 2:01 accounted for the 11-6 final.

Final shots were even at 32 while Lehigh held a 40-38 edge in groundballs. Dartmouth was 17-of-19 on clears to the Mountain Hawks' 19-of-23. Each team was 0-for-3 on the extra man. Lehigh turned the ball over 23 times to the Big Green's 18.

Next up, the Big Green hit the road on Saturday to face Siena. Opening faceoff is set for 11 a.m.