Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra Men's Lacrosse team begins its 71st season of intercollegiate competition this Saturday, February 9 when the Pride travel to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to face the 13th-ranked Mountain Hawks of Lehigh on Frank Banko Field at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Game time is 3 p.m.

Lehigh will provide a live video stream through the Patriot League Network and live stats through Lehighsports.com. Links for both can be found elsewhere on this page as well as on the Hofstra Men's Lacrosse schedule page on GoHofstra.com.

Hofstra is coming off a 6-8 season and a trip to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship semifinals after a 2-3 conference regular season in 2018. The Pride, who lost 20 players including 17 to graduation, return 26 players but just three starters from last year's squad. Hofstra has added 16 newcomers including many who will battle for a starting or significant role in the line-up right up until game time on Saturday

Hofstra returns its top three scorers from a year ago – all attackmen – in All-CAA first team selection junior Ryan Tierney, senior Jimmy Yanes, and sophomore Dylan McIntosh. Tierney, one of two co-captains along with graduate-student defensive midfielder Mark Ellis, led the team in scoring with 27 goals and 22 assists. Yanes, who finished second on the team in scoring, posted career-bests of 24 goals, 11 assists and McIntosh was third on the team in scoring with 21 goals and three assists in his freshman campaign.

To fill the loss of the entire starting midfield, Yanes may move to the midfield which would provide experience, leadership and playmaking ability from a starting unit that recorded 33 goals and 27 assists last year. Junior Ryan Kinnard, who played in nine games last season, and freshman Sterlyn Ardrey are the front-runners for the starting spots on the first midfield.

The defense is reloading as well but returns some experience in juniors Eric Wenz and Michael Altmann, and sophomore CAA All-Rookie Team pick Keegan Santos with senior Brian Philbin challenging for a starting nod. While the graduation of two-time All-American Jack Concannon is a big loss, Hofstra saw that they have four talented and capable goalies during the fall. Leading the group is red-shirt sophomore Robert Casey, who is the front runner.

The Mountain Hawks of Lehigh, who were 10-7 last year, began their 2019 season last Saturday with a 15-8 victory over New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Senior Lucas Spence led Lehigh with two goals and four assists while junior Andrew Eichelberger added three goals. Seniors Mickey Fitzpatrick and Tristan Rai each contributed two goals and one assist against NJIT. Sophomore James Spence made three saves and allowed five goals in the 49 minutes (6.10 GAA) that he played in goal last week.

Lehigh and Hofstra will be meeting for the seventh time on Saturday with the Pride holding a 5-1 series lead. The two teams last hooked up on March 20, 2018 on Long Island with the 12^th-ranked Mountain Hawks recording a 13-8 victory over the 19^th-ranked Pride. Lehigh led 9-8 going into the fourth quarter and scored four times while holding the Pride scoreless. Ryan Tierney recorded a career-high seven assists for the Pride but Lehigh's Andrew Pettit tallied three goals and four assists and classmates Tristan Rai and Lucas Spence each posted five points to lead the Mountain Hawks.

After the Lehigh game, Hofstra will make their 2019 home debut at James M. Shuart Stadium on Saturday, February 16 when the Pride host the Utes of Utah at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at HofstraTickets.com, by telephone by calling (516) HOF-TIXX, by visiting the Hofstra Athletics Box Office in the lobby of the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex during normal business hours, or at the gate at Shuart Stadium on game day.