Melchionni earns praise for weekend heroics

BETHLEHEM, Pa – Junior Neal Melchionni of the Lehigh men's soccer team was honored twice on Monday for his two-goal effort against Holy Cross last weekend. The Marmora, N.J. native took home the Patriot League BRINE Offensive Player of the Week award and was also selected to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week squad.

Melchionni's first goal came in the 51st minute as he volleyed home a cross from senior Matt Thaeder. The junior then added a second in the 74th minute when he latched onto an Austin Decker pass and curled a left-footed effort around the Holy Cross keeper to double Lehigh's advantage. The Mountain Hawks prevailed in the match by a 2-0 score to secure their second Patriot League victory (2-1-1) of the season.

The junior now has three goals and seven points this season, good for second on the team in both categories. Saturday's effort was also Melchionni's first career two-goal performance; prior to Saturday, Melchionni had three goals in 45 career games. Melchionni also found the back of the net against Princeton on September 7 as the Mountain Hawks battled back from a two-goal deficit to edge the Tigers and earn their 500th program win.

Melchionni is the fourth Mountain Hawk to garner a Patriot League weekly award this season. Senior James Graf and junior Kevin Strunk were honored with BRINE Defensive Player of the Week awards on September 21 and October 5, respectively. Senior Jonathan Nydell also earned Goalkeeper of the Week recognition last Monday, giving Lehigh Patriot League weekly honors for three straight award cycles.

The College Soccer News National Team of the Week is compiled every Monday during the season and includes the top 11 performers in the nation as voted on by the publication. Melchionni is Lehigh's first College Soccer News weekly award recipient since Austin Decker was honored on September 20, 2009.

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The Mountain Hawks (5-5-2) return to action on Tuesday when they travel to NJIT at 7 p.m. Lehigh will then resume league play on Saturday when American visits the Ulrich Sports Complex at 7 p.m.

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