Minicus scores four for Raiders

Brian Minicus scored a career-high four goals and Colgate gave 10th-ranked Lehigh all it could handle before falling 15-10 here Sunday afternoon in men’s lacrosse.

“Our defense did a great job in the first half, holding them to five goals,” head coach Matt Karweck said. “That was a significant job there. We ended up giving up 10 over the next two quarters but we stuck to the game plan and this was the best we have played defensively. We’ve got to clean it up in the clearing game. It’s unacceptable how we are clearing the ball.”

The Raiders spotted Lehigh a 4-0 lead by early in the second quarter before Minicus struck for the first of his four with 9:36 showing on the clock. Adam Salvaggio added a pair and although the Mountain Hawks got one back in the closing seconds, Colgate trailed just 5-3 at intermission.

Then the Raiders came out

smoking to start the third.

Minicus scored unassisted just 41 seconds into the quarter and Mike Hawkins followed suit with 12:55 left and it was a 5-5 game. This despite the fact that Lehigh’s Mike Sisselberger was on his way to winning 19 of 25 faceoffs and tilting the field in the visitors’ direction.

The Lehigh offense finally got in gear, scoring eight of the next nine goals over a 22:47 stretch of the third and fourth quarters to go in front 136. Minicus had the only Colgate goal during that run and he scored his final tally on a man-up opportunity with 2:25 remaining in the fourth.

Minicus assisted on Colgate’s final goal from Bobby Goggin – his first of the season – to just miss his career game high of six points. This was the junior attackman’s second career hat trick and first since turning the trick against Lafayette back in 2019.

In addition to Salvaggio’s two goals, Hawkins assisted on two for a threepoint game and scooped up a career-high five ground balls. The Raiders forced a season-high seven caused turnovers, including three from faceoff specialist Thomas Colucci for a collegiate best.

Lehigh improved to 4-0, while Colgate is now 1-4. The Raiders remain 1-1 in the North Division and still alive for one of two places in the Patriot League tournament.

Up Next

Colgate is on the road next weekend with a visit to Bucknell. The Bison on Sunday dropped a 13-10 decision at Navy to fall to 1-3 overall and 0-3 in the Patriot League South Division. Faceoff from Lewisburg is scheduled for Saturday at noon, with ESPN+ carrying all the action.