Navy handles Lehigh easily

ANNAPOLIS — Navy played its first home game in a month yesterday and made sure it wouldn’t have to leave again for at least another four weeks.

The second-ranked Midshipmen handled Lehigh 16-7 yesterday at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium to clinch the No.1 seed and home-field advantage in the Patriot League men’s lacrosse tournament.

Joe Bossi scored a career-high five goals for Navy (9-1, 6-0), which has won eight straight games for the first time since 1986 and can finish its first season in the Patriot League with a perfect conference record if it defeats Holy Cross (3-7, 0-6) tomorrow.

“Anytime you can play in a stadium like this, it’s a big advantage,” Bossi said. “For us not to travel the weekend after next is pretty nice.”

The No.1 seed was a season-long priority for the Mids, who have outscored Patriot foes 93-37. They will play host to the four-team league tournament April30 and May2 and likely will face Army, Bucknell or Colgate in the semifinals.

Lehigh (3-9, 1-4) kept it tight for more than six minutes, minimizing mistakes as Navy clung to a 1-0 lead. However, Navy’s Tommy Wallin knocked the ball from goalie Tom Ellis’ stick in the open field, and Trevor Hoselton scooped it up and scored an empty-netter to jump-start the rout.

“It was a great momentum shift, just like a big save or a big hit,” Bossi said.

Navy scored six more goals before the quarter was through, including three in less than a minute. Bossi scored four goals in the period as the Mids quickly assured the victory.

Bossi leads the Mids with 27 goals and has seven hat tricks this season.

“He scored five, and I think he could have scored 10,” Navy coach Richie Meade said. “Everybody talks about [Ian] Dingman, and [Jon] Birsner’s kind of flashy, but Joe’s the senior. He’s the guy who’s the real leader at that end of the field.”

The undermanned Mountain Hawks proved to be a spunky bunch despite the blowout loss. Ellis made 13 saves, and the offense connected on all but one of its shots on goal.

Navy never permitted Lehigh many offensive opportunities. The Mids won 20 of 27 faceoffs, including a 17-for-19 performance by junior Chris Pieczonka.