Lehigh University Athletics
Strunk nets Defensive Player of the Week honor
10/4/2010 8:15:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Junior Kevin Strunk (Downingtown, Pa.) was named the BRINE Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, as announced by the league office. Strunk played a key role in the Mountain Hawks' victory over Lafayette on Saturday, making a game-saving play in the 80th minute by clearing a shot off the goalline to preserve the shutout and help Lehigh (4-4-1) to its first league win.“I think this award is representative of how the team played defensively,” Lehigh head coach Dean Koski said. “Kevin really stepped up when James Graf came off and led the back four. He did an exceptional job on the day.”
Only minutes after sophomore Austin Decker had given the Mountain Hawks a 1-0 lead, the Leopards threatened to equalize with a furious scramble in front of the Lehigh net. With keeper Jonathan Nydell down, Lafayette's Stephen Macurdy fired a low shot toward the vacant net, but Strunk coolly blocked the attempt in front of the goalline and blasted the ball out of danger to preserve the lead.
The 1-0 advantage held until the final whistle to give Lehigh its first victory over Lafayette since 2006. The win also propelled the Brown and White into a tie for third in the league standings with three points. Colgate and American currently top the table with six points, while Lehigh, Bucknell, Lafayette and Navy stand tied with three points and five league matches remaining.
Strunk is the second Lehigh player to garner a Defensive Player of the Week honor this season as senior captain James Graf earned the award on September 20.
Strunk is the second Lehigh player to garner a Defensive Player of the Week honor this season as senior captain James Graf earned the award on September 20.
Strunk and the rest of the Mountain Hawks defense have conceded only nine goals in nine games this year, good for the third-best mark in the Patriot League. The back line has been particularly stingy at home as the Brown and White have allowed just three goals in five contests at the Ulrich Sports Complex. All four of Lehigh's wins this season have been shutouts; the Mountain Hawks' four clean-sheets are good for the second-best mark in the league.
The Mountain Hawks return to action on Saturday, October 9 at Navy. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
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