BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League honored four Lehigh men’s soccer players when it announced its All-Patriot League teams on Tuesday. Seniors Adam Gazda and Jim Taranto received top honors by being named to the First Team, while junior Adam Welch and sophomore James Graf both took home Second Team honors.
Gazda and Taranto tied for the team lead on the Mountain Hawks with 15 points on the season. Gazda earned more recognition for his ability to put the ball into the net from the midfield, scoring a team-high six goals, while Taranto made a name for himself as a great scorer and distributor. The forward’s seven assists led the team and placed him second in the league. The two seniors led a Lehigh offense that scored 26 goals (third best in the league) and finished fourth in the league with 19 assists.
Graf and Welch helped lead a Lehigh defense that helped it win seven games this season, including five non-league matchups. Graf started in 15 games this season at center back and was named defensive player of the week once. Welch started all 17 games for the Mountain Hawks at center back, scoring one goal and helping a Lehigh defense that allowed 23 goals this season.
For Welch, Gazda and Taranto, it was their second time being named to the All-League team. Welch also received the honor in 2007, while Taranto and Gazda were named to the team in 2006.
The Mountain Hawks finished the season with a 7-7-3 record and a 2-3-2 mark in league play, and will bring back the bulk of a team that finished in sixth place in the Patriot League.
