Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh picked fourth; Strunk nets preseason honor
8/23/2011 5:31:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League's annual preseason poll while senior back Kevin Strunk was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. The Mountain Hawks garnered 65 points and two first-place votes in the poll, which is voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.
Colgate was selected as the preseason favorite with 94 points and 10 first-place votes while two-time defending champion Bucknell was tabbed second with 86 points and four first place points. American was picked third with 69 points as Lafayette (53 points), Navy (41 points), Holy Cross (21 points) and Army (19 points) rounded out spots five through eight, respectively.
Strunk, the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, started all 18 games for the Mountain Hawks and was a crucial part of a Lehigh defense that allowed just 18 goals last season, including eight shutouts. Earlier this month, Strunk was 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.
The league also announced the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Bucknell's Brendan Burgdorf, who also took home the award at the end of last season.
Lehigh finished the 2010 season with an 8-8-2 overall record, including a 4-2-1 mark in league play. For the second consecutive season, the Mountain Hawks finished in second place and fell in the semifinals to American in the Patriot League Tournament.
Now in his 20th season, head coach Dean Koski will welcome back eight starters from last year's squad, including the team's top two points leaders – seniors Joe Puleo (nine points) and Neal Melchionni (eight points).
Lehigh opens its season on Saturday, August 27th when it hosts Stony Brook at the Ulrich Sports Complex at 7 p.m.
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Patriot League Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
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Team (# of first place votes)
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Points
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1
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Colgate (10)
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94
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2
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Bucknell (4)
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86
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3
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American
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69
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4
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LEHIGH (2)
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65
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5
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Lafayette
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53
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6
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Navy
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41
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7
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Holy Cross
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21
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8
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Army
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19
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