Lehigh University Athletics
Four Mountain Hawks honored by PL
11/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – As the Lehigh men’s soccer team nears the beginning of post season play four Mountain Hawks were recognized by the Patriot League on Tuesday. The All-League teams and major awards were handed out and the Brown and White had four players on the first and second teams, and claimed one of the major awards. Senior Adam Welch was named Defensive Player of the Year, and along with his classmate Adam Gazda both earned first team honors. Senior Jesse Schram and junior James Graf were named to the second team.
Welch is in the midst of a career year as he has totaled five goals and five assists for 15 points. He becomes the second Mountain Hawk to receive the Defensive Player of the Year honor (John O’Reilly 2006). Welch became such an offensive threat from his defensive position that Lehigh head coach Dean Koski has played him at forward during the season. His versatility has proved to be invaluable for Lehigh as it looks to claim its second Patriot League Championship in team history. This marks the third year in a row that Welch has been named to an All-League team.
Joining Welch on the first team is classmate Adam Gazda which will mark the third season he has been named among the League’s elite. Gazda who was healthy in 2006 and 2008, currently is second in the league with seven assists. The midfielder has 13 total points on the season which is good for second on the team. A three-year co-captain of the Mountain Hawks, Gazda has been very effective in league games recording one goal and five assists.
Schram now becomes a two-time Second Team All-League honoree after earning the accolade for the first time since 2007. In 2009 he has two goals and two assists for six points. Schram is one of five Mountain Hawks to start in all 17 games this season.
After missing the first six games due to injury, junior co-captain James Graf has put together a very productive season on the Lehigh backline. Graf has four goals and one assist for nine points which is second to only Welch among Lehigh defenders. He now joins Schram as a two-time All-League second team selection.
The other major awards handed out on Tuesday were: Offensive Player of the Year which went to Bucknell’s Conor O’Brien, Rookie of the Year which went to Colgate’s Mike Reidy, Goalkeeper of the Year was given to Lafayette’s Philip Nelson and the Coach of the Year was Brendan Nash of Bucknell.
Lehigh earned the second seed in this weekend’s Patriot League Tournament after defeating Bucknell 2-1 in overtime last Friday night. The Mountain Hawks will head back to Lewisburg to take on American this Friday at 8 p.m. The teams played to a 0-0 tie earlier this season in Washington, D.C.
