Lehigh University Athletics
Season Preview: Mountain Hawks aim to return to Patriot League Tournament in 2013
8/28/2013 9:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Lehigh men's soccer team looks to return to the Patriot League Tournament this season for the fourth time in five years. Despite finishing the 2012 season with a 4-12-1 record, the Mountain Hawks remained in contention for the tournament until the conclusion of their final game.
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Head Coach Dean Koski will mix experienced leaders with young talent this season. The offense will be led by senior captain James Meyerkord. The feature forward played in every game in 2012, scored two goals and led the team with 46 shots. Sophomore Dilan Casanovas Mack, who played in 14 games last season, will start alongside of Meyerkord.
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"Brian Suchoski will be our first sub up top," said Koski. "Junior Rylan Collins and freshman Matt McCombs will also compete for playing time. I feel like we have some pretty good options and some depth up top."
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The midfield will be an area of competition for the Mountain Hawks. With only four spots available, Koski says there are many players in contention for starting positions throughout the season. Freshman Danny Gonzalez, Kyle Chin and Jamie Luchini will all get playing time as center midfielders.
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"Gonzalez had a really good preseason and will be a strong candidate for starting," said Koski. "Luchini has done really well for us this spring so he has a good chance of starting, as does Chin."
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Experience will be brought to the midfield by senior Ben Borin and junior Matt Shreiner. Both Mountain Hawks saw plenty of playing time last year. Koski feels that they will add quality depth to the midfield. Sophomore Ryan Betrando will anchor the midfield defensively and platoon with sophomores Brian Vail and Shane Mulcahy.
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The Lehigh defense will be anchored by junior Ali Famili in the center back position. The 2012 first team All-Patriot league selection played 90+ minutes in each of his 16 appearances on the season.
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"Ali will be an important leader for us, particularly during the games when we're going to need that on the field game management," said Koski.
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Captain Ben Wysocki will also return in the back field for the Mountain Hawks. The senior played in every game last season and logged a team-leading 1,482 minutes on the field.
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"Wysocki is probably the most experienced of the back four," said Koski. "We're going to rely upon his understanding of the position and his leadership. Next to Famili will be freshman Justin Worley, who has had a very good preseason and who we think is going to be one of the better freshmen in the league if he continues to play the way he's played. Freshman Stefan Woort-Menker will be our starting right back. Kyle Lucas will play a vital role as center back sub and Ben Davis will be our first outside back off the bench."
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Senior Ciaran Nugent has been the starting goalkeeper for the last two years. The Mountain Hawks also have three other contenders in junior Kevin Motylewski, sophomore Everett McCord and freshman Jacob Gottwald.
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In addition to welcoming eight freshmen, Lehigh will return five seniors, five juniors and eight sophomores. The leadership of the upperclassmen will be imperative in forming team chemistry on the field. Â
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"We rely very heavily upon all of our seniors to assert some level of leadership," said Koski. "Meyerkord and Wysocki are our captains and our spokespeople. There are many guys that have been here for four years, and whether they are starters, subs or role players we still need their support and their leadership."
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The Moutain Hawks will host nine home games this season and travel to eight away games. They will face three 2012 NCAA Tournament competitors in Fairleigh Dickinson, Lafayette and Drexel. The team will meet Patriot League newcomer Loyola (Md.) for the first time in program history, as well as take on Boston University for the second time. Lehigh will open up Patriot League play at American on September 28.
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"I know the Patriot League is going to be exponentially more difficult from adding Loyola and Boston University," said Koski. "It raises the bar, and what we do in our first six non-league games is going to be very important for us to establish ourselves. We've got a chance to really develop our team, our chemistry and our system so that hopefully by the time we see American, we'll be further along than we are today."
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The Mountain Hawks will open the 2013 season at home Friday, August 30 at 7 p.m. against Bryant.
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"I'm excited about the league, excited about the season, and it's time to get ready for Bryant which will be a good challenge for us," said Koski.
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Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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Head Coach Dean Koski will mix experienced leaders with young talent this season. The offense will be led by senior captain James Meyerkord. The feature forward played in every game in 2012, scored two goals and led the team with 46 shots. Sophomore Dilan Casanovas Mack, who played in 14 games last season, will start alongside of Meyerkord.
Â
"Brian Suchoski will be our first sub up top," said Koski. "Junior Rylan Collins and freshman Matt McCombs will also compete for playing time. I feel like we have some pretty good options and some depth up top."
Â
The midfield will be an area of competition for the Mountain Hawks. With only four spots available, Koski says there are many players in contention for starting positions throughout the season. Freshman Danny Gonzalez, Kyle Chin and Jamie Luchini will all get playing time as center midfielders.
Â
"Gonzalez had a really good preseason and will be a strong candidate for starting," said Koski. "Luchini has done really well for us this spring so he has a good chance of starting, as does Chin."
Â
Experience will be brought to the midfield by senior Ben Borin and junior Matt Shreiner. Both Mountain Hawks saw plenty of playing time last year. Koski feels that they will add quality depth to the midfield. Sophomore Ryan Betrando will anchor the midfield defensively and platoon with sophomores Brian Vail and Shane Mulcahy.
Â
The Lehigh defense will be anchored by junior Ali Famili in the center back position. The 2012 first team All-Patriot league selection played 90+ minutes in each of his 16 appearances on the season.
Â
"Ali will be an important leader for us, particularly during the games when we're going to need that on the field game management," said Koski.
Â
Captain Ben Wysocki will also return in the back field for the Mountain Hawks. The senior played in every game last season and logged a team-leading 1,482 minutes on the field.
Â
"Wysocki is probably the most experienced of the back four," said Koski. "We're going to rely upon his understanding of the position and his leadership. Next to Famili will be freshman Justin Worley, who has had a very good preseason and who we think is going to be one of the better freshmen in the league if he continues to play the way he's played. Freshman Stefan Woort-Menker will be our starting right back. Kyle Lucas will play a vital role as center back sub and Ben Davis will be our first outside back off the bench."
Â
Senior Ciaran Nugent has been the starting goalkeeper for the last two years. The Mountain Hawks also have three other contenders in junior Kevin Motylewski, sophomore Everett McCord and freshman Jacob Gottwald.
Â
In addition to welcoming eight freshmen, Lehigh will return five seniors, five juniors and eight sophomores. The leadership of the upperclassmen will be imperative in forming team chemistry on the field. Â
Â
"We rely very heavily upon all of our seniors to assert some level of leadership," said Koski. "Meyerkord and Wysocki are our captains and our spokespeople. There are many guys that have been here for four years, and whether they are starters, subs or role players we still need their support and their leadership."
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The Moutain Hawks will host nine home games this season and travel to eight away games. They will face three 2012 NCAA Tournament competitors in Fairleigh Dickinson, Lafayette and Drexel. The team will meet Patriot League newcomer Loyola (Md.) for the first time in program history, as well as take on Boston University for the second time. Lehigh will open up Patriot League play at American on September 28.
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"I know the Patriot League is going to be exponentially more difficult from adding Loyola and Boston University," said Koski. "It raises the bar, and what we do in our first six non-league games is going to be very important for us to establish ourselves. We've got a chance to really develop our team, our chemistry and our system so that hopefully by the time we see American, we'll be further along than we are today."
Â
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2013 season at home Friday, August 30 at 7 p.m. against Bryant.
Â
"I'm excited about the league, excited about the season, and it's time to get ready for Bryant which will be a good challenge for us," said Koski.
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Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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