Lehigh junior attackmen David DiMaria and Dante Fantoni went to high school less than a mile from each other on Long Island. While DiMaria was tearing it up for Half Hollows Hills West, Fantoni was doing the same for St. Anthony’s. Little did they know that in the near future, the two would complement each other as one of the nation’s top collegiate scoring duos.
Following a preseason scrimmage against each other Saturday, head coaches Kevin Cassese of Lehigh and Brian Dougherty of Chestnut Hill will be joining forces Sunday when the two friends coach the U.S. National Team in the Champion Challenge. After the Mountain Hawks and Griffins squared off, the two hopped in a car for the Philadelphia airport.
After advancing to the program’s first Patriot League Tournament since 2006 last season, the Lehigh men’s lacrosse team is projected to do it again as the Mountain Hawks were picked fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll announced on Wednesday. The results were unveiled during the league’s preseason media teleconference.
Lehigh men’s lacrosse’s showdown at Navy has been moved to Friday, Mar. 30 and will air nation-wide on CBS Sports Network. Faceoff in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is set for 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks will be looking for their second straight win over the Midshipmen after breaking a 98-year drought last year with a thrilling 14-10 win.
Lehigh made the Patriot League Tournament for the first time in five seasons with a 7 -9 record in 2011. The year ended in disappointing fashion against Bucknell, 13-5. Most of the starters return, so coach Kevin Cassese hopes this is the season the Mountain Hawks can reach their first NCAA Tournament.