Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh men's soccer eyes 2011 Patriot League crown
8/24/2011 5:21:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's soccer team is coming off consecutive years in which it finished second in the league and then fell in the semifinals of the Patriot League Tournament. With an experienced group, including eight starters returning from 2010, head coach Dean Koski and the Mountain Hawks are hoping to break the trend and finish atop the Patriot League in 2011.
The end of the 2010 season left a bitter taste in the team's mouth. In the Patriot League Tournament semifinals, No. 2 Lehigh outshot No. 3 American, 13-5, but the Mountain Hawks were unable to find the back of the net and ultimately gave up the game-winner in the 47th minute.
"We were disappointed in not competing for a championship in the finals, but I think the guys did a good job of putting that result and that season behind us and moving on," said Koski, who is entering his 20th season at the helm for Lehigh. "The guys worked hard through the winter, spring and summer to be ready for this fall."
Lehigh returns 10 upperclassmen, including eight seniors, and the Mountain Hawks will rely heavily on that experience on the pitch. They return their top two points leaders from 2010 – seniors Joe Puleo (nine points) and Neal Melchionni (eight points).
Puleo started all 18 of Lehigh's games last season at the forward position and was in the Top 10 in the Patriot League in several categories. He was tied for eighth in shots per game (2.0), tied for eighth in goals scored (4), ranked ninth in shots (36) and tied for ninth in goals per game (0.22). Puleo was also only one of 11 players in the league who had a two-goal game; he found the back of the net twice in the season-opener against Rutgers on September 1.
Another one of those 11 players was Melchionni, who scored both of Lehigh's goals against Holy Cross on October 16. For his efforts, he was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week and to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week. Melchionni started in 17 games last season in the midfield, totaling 1,128 total minutes. Combined with that experience and his vocal leadership, Melchionni was named one of the team's co-captains for the 2011 campaign.
Donning a captain's armband along with Melchionni will be junior midfielder Cameron Omsberg. Omsberg had a breakout sophomore year. After seeing time in just one game his freshman year, Omsberg started all 18 games last season and earned his first-collegiate point with an assist on a game-winner against Princeton to help Lehigh earn its 500th program victory.
"The team openly discussed who they thought would best serve the needs of this team and both Neal Melchionni and Cam Omsberg became obvious choices," said Koski. "We were certainly very pleased with the process; I think both will bring a different dynamic as leaders. Both are highly respected by their teammates and by the coaching staff and that is what you want in leaders."
Omsberg will be a center back this season, solidifying a Mountain Hawks defense that allowed just 18 goals in 18 games last season, including eight shutouts. Joining Omsberg in the back will be seniors Kevin Strunk and Jordie Ciuffetelli.
Shrunk was the 2010 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and was recently named to the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List for 2011. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer. Shrunk started all 18 games last season and led the team in minutes played (1,673). Ciuffetelli started all of Lehigh's games last year as left back and will return to the back, but will be utilized on the right side as well this season which is his natural side.
"Kevin will play a pivotal role in managing our defensive unit and with Jordie's experience, we'll have two seniors in our back four with substantial Division I minutes logged," said Koski.
Freshman Ali Famili will start as the right back after earning the position during preseason. Junior Matt Weaver will fill a role as a back-up to any of the outside backs as well as compete for a starting position in the midfield. And Senior CJ Rabey will provide additional depth for Lehigh in the back.
Senior Daniel Odenwelder, last year's starting defensive midfielder, will be back at the position to help anchor the midfield with sophomore Kyle Lucas backing him up. Sophomore Ben Wysocki, who appeared in 18 games last season and scored his first career goal in game-winning fashion at Army, and freshman Matt Shreiner will both back up Melchionni in the midfield.
Then there are seniors Steve Avena and Ayo Olasupo, junior Matt Weaver and sophomore Ben Borin whom could all be slotted in the right midfielder position. Koski could find himself in a spot where he will platoon that position and work guys in and out of the lineup depending on Lehigh's opponent.
There is also some depth at the attacking-midfield level. Freshman Michael Gonzalez, a two-time First Team All-Central League Selection out of Berwyn, Pa. has shown glimpses of his talent during training camp and could find himself in the starting role. Sophomore James Meyerkord, who saw action in all 18 games last season with 12 starts, will also be shuffled into the mix as an attacking midfielder or could also play the forward position.
Another incoming freshman who Koski thinks will be able to contribute and help with scoring is forward Brian Suchoski, who graduated as James M. Coughlin High School's (Bear Creek Township, Pa.) all-time leading scorer in goals and assists. An NSCAA All-Region selection and a three-time Pennsylvania All-State First Team Selection (2008, '09, '10'), Suchoski led Coughlin to the 2010 Class AAA District 2 Championship.
With Puleo, Meyerkord and the newcomers Gonzalez and Suchoski, Koski is hoping for a higher output out of a Lehigh offense that was ranked sixth in the eight-team league in goals scored (16) and goals per game (.89).
"Our intentions are too be able to improve our goal production, but that comes with the players you have who can score goals, "said Koski. "We will probably platoon those forwards as well depending on competition and productivity."
While Lehigh hopes for more goal production, it will rely on sophomore Ciaran Nugent to stop opponent's attacks. Nugent will be replacing keeper Jonathan Nydell, a three-year starter who had a senior year in which he had seven shutouts in 17 starts and was ranked third in the league in goals against average (1.02). In Nugent's lone start last season, he shutout NJIT with a five-save effort. Backing up Nugent will be junior Taylor Sulmonetti, who according to Koski had a very impressive spring and will challenge Nugent appropriately week in and week out. Freshman Kevin Motylewski is the third keeper in the group. Despite what on paper may not be an experienced trio, Koski is not concerned and is really excited about the future of his keepers.
"We have two really good keepers right now and we're bringing in Kevin who is certainly going to learn a great deal from those two," said Koski. "I think we feel really good about where we are in goal."
From the keeper to the backs to the midfielders to the forwards, Koski isn't worried about his team's ability to defend or score, but transitioning from defense to offense and vise-versa.
"We have to transition better, recognize those moments and then make the right decision in those situations," he said. "I am always focused on our ability to constantly play at a level that we are capable of for a full 90 minutes. We can't give up goals early or late in the half or late in the game."
The Mountain Hawks will be tested for the full 90 each game as they tackle a tough 2011 schedule. With a slate that features match-ups with five teams (UC Berkeley, Stanford, St. Peters, Penn and Princeton) that qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2010, Lehigh is going to have its work cut out for them.
Lehigh opens its 2011 season against 2009 America East champion Stony Brook at the Ulrich Sports Complex on August 27 at 7 p.m. It will be the second meeting between the clubs as Lehigh captured the first meeting, 1-0, in 2008.
The Mountain Hawks have won their last three season openers and will be looking to start of its 2011 season with the same result.
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