Lehigh University Athletics
Gazda, Welch named to All-Region team
12/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Even though the Lehigh men’s soccer season has been over for a few weeks the good news keeps coming in for the Mountain Hawks. Seniors Adam Welch and Adam Gazda were named to the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Mid-Atlantic Region Team on Friday. Welch was named to the first team and Gazda earned third team honors. The two of them helped the Mountain Hawks earn a berth in the Patriot League Tournament and finish with a 9-5-3 overall record.
The accolades keep piling up for Welch, who was recently named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and garnered First Team All-Patriot League honors. The Bethlehem, Pa., native is coming off a career season where he led Lehigh in points (15) and tied for the team lead in goals (five). The senior showed his versatility this past season playing both defense and forward for the Brown and White.
Gazda, a three-year co-captain for the Mountain Hawks, finished the season with 13 points on three goals and seven assists which were second in the league. He came on strong during league play scoring one goal and recording five of his seven assists. Like Welch, Gazda was named to the First Team All-Patriot League, which was the third time during his career that he received All-League distinction. This is the second straight year that Gazda received national recognition as he was named to the Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region last year.
In total 12 Patriot League men’s soccer student-athletes were named to a Mid-Atlantic All-Region team.
On Thursday, Welch was named as one of the 62 Division I seniors to receive an invitation to the 2010 MLS Player Combine being held in Central Broward Regional Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., from Jan. 8-12. The last Mountain Hawk to be invited to the MLS Combine was Andrew Mittendorf ’98 in 1999 and he was selected eighth overall by the Colorado Rapids that same year in the MLS SuperDraft.
Make sure to check back with Lehighsports.com to follow Adam Welch’s path to the combine. The 2010 MLS SuperDraft will take place on Thursday January 14, in Philadelphia, Pa.
