Lehigh University Athletics
Men's soccer at halfway point of preseason
8/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With only one week until their first game the men’s soccer team has been working hard getting ready for the upcoming season. The Mountain Hawks reached the halfway point of the preseason Monday, and they still have two scrimmages before their first game against Stanford next Tuesday. Head coach Dean Koski has been happy with the way his team has been working this preseason.
“Preseason is going very well,” Koski said. “We’ve checked off a lot of things: fitness, evaluating players, and integrating freshmen.”
The team has only been practicing for a week, but all ready there has been some good chemistry that has developed among the players.
“The team is doing a good job of working together, “ Koski said. “The freshmen are proving themselves and the senior leadership is helping manage expectations.”
“One of the biggest things we’re getting out of preseason is team chemistry,” added senior co-captain Adam Gazda. “We worked hard last spring, the trip to Italy went great and we have freshmen that are willing to buy into what we are trying to do this fall.”
Lehigh played its first of three scrimmages Sunday, a 0-0 tie with Big East opponent Rutgers. With two more scrimmages still to come, the Mountain Hawks focused their attention on playing sound defensively against the Scarlet Knights.
“We did a good job when defending was most critical,” Koski said. We haven’t spent much time on attacking, and our objective continues to be an emphasis on team defense.”
Lehigh will host Long Island University tonight at 7 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex in its second scrimmage of the preseason. On Friday the Mountain Hawks will play host to another Big East team, St. Johns (N.Y.) at 7 p.m. The Red Storm are ranked #5 this preseason according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Both games offer free admission and all fans are encouraged to attend.
The Mountain Hawks will use these remaining scrimmages to continue to prepare for the season and with the level of competition they are facing it should give the team a good idea of what they still need to work on.
“All three teams have distinctive styles of play,” Koski said. “They all are good challenges and it is important to be challenged because it will better prepare us for our season.”
“We are scrimmaging against great competition,” added junior co-captain James Graf. “It has been four months since we played as a team and there is still rust to knock off.”
The men’s soccer regular season will officially begin at home on September 1, at 7 p.m. against Stanford.
Men's Soccer 2009 Season Preview!
