Posted: September 3, 2007
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – First-year head coach Brett Reed has announced the Mountain Hawks 2007-08 schedule, which includes 14 home dates, 14 games versus teams that won at least 15 games last season and five matchups versus 2007 NCAA Tournament teams. “We’re looking forward to the upcoming season and this schedule,” Reed commented. “There are a lot of familiar, traditional, like-minded academic opponents along with quality regional opponents.” He continued, “I believe that this schedule will be challenging for a younger team and I also believe that it will serve well to be excellent preparation for our Patriot League competition.”
Lehigh tips off its 2007-08 season on Saturday, November 10 when the Mountain Hawks travel to Ithaca, New York to take on a Cornell team that many believe will be near the top of the Ivy League. The Mountain Hawks open up the home portion of their schedule on Wednesday, November 14 when the Peacocks of St. Peter’s come to Stabler Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 that evening.
Three straight road games are next on the schedule, which include trips to take on 2007 NCAA Tournament participants Albany (November 20) and Maryland (November 23), as well as a date with St. Francis (Pa.) in Loretto on Saturday, November 17.
First-time opponent NJIT comes to Bethlehem on November 26 while Quinnipiac arrives at Stabler Arena two days later. The Mountain Hawks then head up to New Britain, Connecticut on December 1 to take on the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, another 2007 NCAA Tournament participant. Lehigh downed CCSU 55-52 last season at home.
A trio of home dates appears next starting with a visit from Stony Brook on December 5. Harvard comes to Stabler on Saturday, December 8 and following a break for finals and the holidays, the Monmouth Hawks make the short trip to South Mountain on December 28. “I’m pleased that we’re able to compete in five home games during the fall semester to give our students and fans an opportunity to see this year’s team in the early-going,” explained Reed.
Lehigh’s final game in 2007 will take place in Happy Valley as the Brown and White heads west to take on Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center on December 31 for a New Year’s Eve showdown.
A pair of non-league contests begin the new year for Lehigh as the Mountain Hawks take on Ivy League foes Columbia (January 2) in New York and Princeton (January 6) at home. The 2008 Patriot League schedule gets underway on Saturday, January 12 when Lehigh welcomes American to town. The Mountain Hawks swept the Eagles last season, including a dramatic last-second victory at home in the league opener.
Arch-rival Lafayette appears on the schedule twice, including January 26 when the Leopards come to Stabler Arena and again on February 23 when the Mountain Hawks make the short trip to Easton. A tough stretch of road games awaits Lehigh at the end of the first month of the year when the Mountain Hawks head to Bucknell (January 30), Holy Cross (February 2) and American (February 9), while the always tough trip to Hamilton, New York to take on Colgate is slated for February 20.
Lehigh will look to exact revenge on Army, the team that knocked the Mountain Hawks out of the 2007 Patriot League Tournament, on Saturday February 16 in what will be the Black Knights first trip to Stabler Arena since February 2007. Perennial powers Bucknell (February 27) and Holy Cross (March 1) come to Stabler Arena for a pair of contests to close out the regular season, while the 2008 Patriot League Tournament gets underway on March 5. The tournament semifinals are slated for March 9 while the 2008 Patriot League Championship is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 14.
Lehigh returns seven letterwinners from last season’s team, including four starters.