#13 Spiders Rally For Road Win At Lehigh

Saturday, February 22

Bethlehem, Pa.

Noon

University of Richmond

3-1

Lehigh

0-4

Richmond

Lehigh

02/22/2025 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Bethlehem, Pa. – Heading into Saturday's road matchup against first-time opponent Lehigh, University of Richmond attackman Aidan O'Neil needed just two points to reach 100 for his career. With three points in the back-and-forth game's final 19 minutes, O'Neil not only reached the milestone but also provided the No. 13 Spiders with a go-ahead boost, helping them pull away with a 9-8 victory.

Joining O'Neil with three-point performances were Lucas Littlejohn and Lukas Olsson. Max Merklinger and Daniel Picart each added two points, while Joe Sheridan and Leo Caine contributed a point each.

Merklinger put the Spiders on the board at 13:05 in the first quarter before Lehigh went on a 3-0 run. Olsson ended Richmond's skid at 1:26 off a pass from Merklinger and tied the game at 3-3 with another goal off a feed from Sheridan with just 10 seconds left in the first.

Littlejohn put the Spiders ahead with his goal off a Picart assist at 11:20 in the second, capping a 3-0 Richmond run and giving them a 4-3 advantage.

Lehigh responded with three unanswered goals to go up 6-4 at 11:18 in the third. Olsson broke up the Mountain Hawks momentum with a man-up goal off a pass from Leo Caine at 10:38. Lehigh regained a two-goal advantage with a goal at 6:12, making it 7-5.

Richmond made a late push, starting with an unassisted O'Neil goal at 3:28 in the third. O'Neil then assisted on two Littlejohn goals to help the Spiders reclaim the lead. Picart capped the Richmond scoring with an unassisted goal at 11:20 in the final quarter. Lehigh added a goal in the final seconds, but the Spiders held on for the win.

Lehigh won the face off battle, going 15-of-20, and led 34-30 in ground balls while also halting two Richmond clears (Spiders went 15-of-17). However, the Mountain Hawks committed 17 turnovers to Richmond's 11, and the Spiders caused seven Lehigh turnovers, with Connor Kelly leading the way with three caused turnovers and four ground balls, marking careers highs.

Goalie Zach Vigue made 13 saves and is now just two saves away from 500 for his career.

Richmond returns home on Sunday, March 2, when the Spiders host fifth-ranked Cornell at Robins Stadium during the team's beanie giveaway.