Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/6/22
From Press Release
Lehigh head men’s lacrosse coach Kevin Cassese announced the Mountain Hawks’ captains on Thursday, featuring five individuals – a pair of graduate students and three seniors. Teddy Leggett, James Spence (Springfield-Delco), Cole Kirst, Matt Marker (Allentown Central Catholic, Duke’s LC) and Tommy Schelling will help lead Lehigh into a highly-anticipated 2022 season.
“Congratulations to these Lehigh Lacrosse men on being selected as team captains by their peers,” said Cassese. “I look forward to working with these five men and their classmates as we get set to attack the 2022 season. This is a team with a veteran presence, with high-level leaders on both ends of the field and in between. We will need that high-level leadership every single day if we plan to accomplish our lofty goals that have been set for this spring.”
Leggett is a returning captain (along with Andrew Eichelberger and Matt Douglas from last season’s NCAA Tournament team). Named a Senior CLASS Award Finalist (and Senior CLASS Award first team All-American), Leggett has made his mark with everyone and everything he’s come in contact with over his collegiate career. On the field, he was named All-Patriot League for the third time in as many seasons (earning second-team honors). He led the Mountain Hawks with 15 caused turnovers, while adding 43 groundballs (good for second, only behind faceoff specialist Mike Sisselberger). Leggett’s 209 career groundballs and 63 caused turnovers entering the season are both sixth in program history.
A four-year starter in goal, Spence emerged as a senior to garner honorable mention All-America by the USILA, Inside Lacrosse Media and USA Lacrosse Magazine. He finished the season 14th in the nation in save percentage (56.0) and 15th in goals against average (9.83), reaching double-figure saves in nine of his 12 games (and finishing with a 10-2 record). One of his strongest performances was a career-high tying 17 saves (allowing just six goals) in a 10-6 win over Loyola to earn Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week, and earn a spot on the USILA National Team of the Week.
A contributor from the beginning at Lehigh, Kirst enjoyed his strongest season to date as a junior. He finished second on the Mountain Hawks in goals (26) and third in points (34) to garner second team All-Patriot League recognition. A member of the USA Under-21 National Team, Kirst was consistent in recording multiple points in all 12 contests, including eight multi-goal games and five hat tricks. He began the season with seven consecutive multi-goal games.
Marker saw action in 10 of Lehigh’s 12 games as a junior in the midfield, posting five goals and three assists. But his impact on those around him goes far beyond any statistics. A local product out of Allentown Central Catholic, one of Marker’s goals came in the Patriot League Semifinals vs. Colgate to break a 2-2 tie, as Lehigh wouldn’t trail the rest of the way.
Schelling was named first team All-Patriot League last season, leading the Mountain Hawks in assists (24) and points (48). He finished third in the league (19th nationally) in assists per game (2.18), fourth in the league (21st nationally) in points per contest (4.36) and sixth in the league (48th nationally) in goals per game (2.18). Named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, Schelling was a two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week (following wins at Colgate and vs. Navy). He enters his senior season with 63 career goals and 48 assists for 111 points.
Lehigh returns a strong core in 2022, including its top five scorers, and the majority of its defense, led by Leggett and senior Anthony Tangredi. Sisselberger, a first team All-American, returns in the faceoff circle following an NCAA record-breaking season, winning 79.5 percent of his faceoffs (225-of-283) with 160 groundballs.
