BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With preseason camp set to open soon, a number of Mountain Hawks have been making their mark on the summer circuit. Adam Gazda, Jimmy Taranto and Jonathan Nydell along with incoming freshman Kevin Strunk are members of the Reading Rage in the Premier Development League and recently won the Eastern Title. That foursome will compete in the PDL semifinals versus the defending champ Laredo Heat on August 2. Adam Welch, Jesse Schram, Matt McNeil, Pat Cucci, James Graf and former standout Sam Bishop ’05 are all members of the Pennsylvania Stoners in the National Premier Soccer League and also recently advanced to their respective semifinal.
In the Reading Rage’s 1-0 victory over the Brooklyn Knights on July 27, Gazda used some nifty footwork to force the defense into a foul which resulted in a penalty kick. Tyrell Burgess then deposited the PK into the back of the net, sending Reading into this weekend’s semifinal match versus Laredo at Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex.
Up to this point in the season, Gazda has appeared in 15 matches and scored six goals to go with six assists for a team leading 18 points. Taranto is right behind with 16 points, coming on seven goals and two assists, while Strunk has appeared in four games and totaled 205 minutes in that time. Nydell has totaled 86 minutes in goal for Reading and made one save in that time. Gazda and Taranto were also recently named to the PDL All-Conference team.
The Stoners won a 2-1 affair over the New York Athletic Club on July 29 to advance to the NPSL’s final four, which will take place on Friday, August 1 at Mitchell Complex on Long Island where the Stoners will take on the tournament host Long Island Academy. For the season, Welch has scored four points on two goals, while Schram has added two points.
In addition to the latest happenings on the pitch, incoming freshman Steven Avena was named one of 100 freshmen nationwide to “Keep an eye on” for the coming season by College Soccer News. Avena, who will arrive at Lehigh by way of Las Vegas, was named the Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year last year after helping lead Bishop Gorman High School to the second of back-to-back Class 4A state championships. An All-State selection, Avena earned team MVP honors in 2007 and is National Merit and AP scholar.
