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The Hobart College lacrosse team will travel to Philadelphia to compete in the 2014 Northeast Conference Championship. The fourth-seeded Statesmen will take on tournament host Saint Joseph's University in the first semifinal on Thursday, May 1 beginning at 4 p.m. at Sweeney Field.

Both the Statesmen (4-9) and Hawks (11-3) are in their first season as associate members of the NEC. The two teams played just four days ago with SJU completing an unbeaten run through the league with a 15-8 victory at Hobart's Boswell Field. NEC leading scorer Ryan McGee produced a game-high five points on three goals and two assists to lead the Hawks. Sophomore attackman Matt Opsahl paced the Statesmen with three goals and an assist. Hobart faceoff specialist Jake Shapiro went 15-of-25 at the X and grabbed five ground balls.

On the defensive end of the field, Saint Joseph's starting goalie T.J. Jones stood out, making 13 saves in 51 minutes, including five in the first quarter and six in the third. The Hawks have won five straight entering the tournament.

Opsahl leads Hobart with 29 points on 21 goals and eight assists. Senior attackmen Jake McHenry (26-2-28) and Cam Stone (8-19-27) are close behind. Senior goalie Peter Zonino anchors the Hobart defense. He's appeared in 12 games this season and sports a .514 save percentage and a 10.19 goals against average.

The Statesmen lead the all-time series with the Hawks 2-1. Hobart's victories came in 2008 (8-3) and 2009 (12-7).

The second semifinal is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Sweeney Field and will feature second seeded Bryant and third seeded Sacred Heart.

The winners will meet on Saturday, May 3 at Sweeney Field at 1 p.m. for the NEC Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship.