BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The honors just keep rolling in for four Mountain Hawks as seniors Jim Morahan, John O’Reilly, and Joe Verdi and sophomore Jim Taranto were selected to All-Mid Atlantic Region teams, as it was announced on Wednesday. O’Reilly, Taranto and Verdi were named to the First-Team, while Morahan was named to the Second-Team. This is the first time in program history that Lehigh had three players selected to the First-Team.
“Having Verdi, O’Reilly and Taranto make the First-Team is a testimony to the impact that each of them had on our historic season,” said head coach Dean Koski. “I am equally as pleased that Morahan was recognized by coaches for the incredible season that he had for us by being selected to the Second-Team. We are extremely proud of these four players and I’m sure they will share the honors appropriately with their teammates.”
This was the second consecutive season that O’Reilly received All-Region honors. As a junior, he was named to the Third-Team. Selected at the Patriot League’s Defensive Player of the Year and named First-Team All-League, O’Reilly factored into both the Mountain Hawks’ nationally ranked defense and the offense. One of the team’s two center backs, O’Reilly helped keep opponents out of Lehigh’s defensive end as the Mountain Hawks allowed only ten goals—the fewest goals allowed since 1964. On the offensive side of the ball, O’Reilly scored six times—four of which were off dead balls with his other two resulting off dead ball situations. The Arlington, Mass. native also had the winning shootout attempt against Rhode Island in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to send the Mountain Hawks into the sweet sixteen of the tournament.
Verdi served as the team’s other center back, partnering with O’Reilly to make it tough for the opponent’s to penetrate the Lehigh defensive zone by going down the middle of the field. Offensively, Verdi tallied a career high three goals and one assist. He was named two times to national teams of the week—once by College Soccer News and once by SoccerAmerica.com. The Ivyland, Pa. native earned his second All-League selection this year by being named to the First-Team. This was the first time he has received All-Region honors.
Taranto, a transfer from Virginia, had a major impact in his first season with the Brown and White. He recorded a team-high 20 points, scoring eight goals and having four assists. Taranto scored the Mountain Hawks’ first two goals of the season, tallying goals in the season-opener against Fairleigh Dickinson on August 26 and then having another goal against Penn on September 4. In the final game of the regular season, Taranto had the game-winning goal just 1:33 into overtime to lift the Mountain Hawks over archrival Lafayette and to give Lehigh a perfect 7-0 record in Patriot League play.
Morahan capped off his career with a tremendous year in goal for Lehigh. In his previous three years combined, Morahan had only made one appearance. This season, he started in all 20 games and proved to be one of the top goalkeepers in the country. Throughout much of the season, he was among the top five goalkeepers in the nation in goals against average and save percentage in the NCAA statistical standings. The Englewood, Colo. native posted a new school record in shutouts by recording 12, breaking Sam Bishop’s mark of ten. Morahan earned his first All-League honor this year by being named to the Second-Team and was also selected to the Patriot League’s All-Tournament team.
