INDIANAPOLIS - Among a year full of "firsts," the UIndy men's lacrosse squad will accomplish perhaps the most unexpected this Friday when they step on the field for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tourmament, hosted by Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa.

The 18th-ranked Greyhounds (8-5) - picked by the coaches in the preseason to finish seventh in the conference - earned the No. 4 seed, drawing the top seed and fourth-ranked Lakers (13-2) in Friday's semifinal at 12:30 p.m. ET. It will have been less than one week since the last two met, as Mercyhurst defeated UIndy 10-2 in last Saturday's regular season finale.

A tall order for the first-year Hounds, the Lakers lead the ECAC in nearly every statistical category, and rank in the top ten nationally in scoring defense (6.40 goals/game), scoring margin (+5.13 goals/game), man-up offense (.383) and man-down defense (.800). Mercyhurst's attack features the ECAC's top four individual scorers based on goals-per-game, led by James Crowe (2.40). Keeper Matt Wells ranks second in Division II in goals-against average at 6.26.

UIndy has also had success in several categories, most notably a .533 man-up conversion percentage which leads the nation. The Hounds are also 12th in scoring defense (8.46), second only to the Lakers among ECAC teams. Freshman Parker Kump leads the team with 33 total goals, good for fifth-best in the conference, and ranks in the top five nationally with nine man-up goals. Freshman goalie Jarod Kimble is second in the ECAC and ninth in D-II with an 8.29 goals-against average.

The other side of the tournament bracket features two-seed and two-time defending ECAC champs, Lake Erie (9-5), vs. three-seed Lindenwood (9-5), meeting in Friday's first semifinal at 10 a.m. UIndy has wins against both the Storm and Lions this season.

SEMIFINALS – May 6
No. 2 Lake Erie College vs. No. 3 Lindenwood University – 10 a.m.
No. 1 Mercyhurst vs. No. 4 Indianapolis University – 12:30 p.m.