Lehigh University Athletics
Men’s soccer opens preseason practice
8/12/2015 2:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's soccer team held its first official practice of the 2015 campaign Wednesday morning. The Mountain Hawks kicked off the practice with fitness testing before breaking into drills.
"Preseason is my favorite time of the year," said head coach Dean Koski, who enters his 24th season at the helm. "I've been doing this for many years and I look forward to the energy and excitement of preseason every year."(8/12/2015) MSOC Preseason Practice, 8/12/15
Seven seniors will be depended upon to lead a balanced group of six juniors, eight sophomores and seven freshmen. Lehigh returns three of its five All-Patriot League selections from a season ago in seniors Jamie Luchini and Brian Vail and junior Justin Worley. The Mountain Hawks are faced with the task of replacing third team All-League goalkeeper Ciaran Nugent and third team All-League defender Ali Famili from last year's campaign. Koski feels that the team is in a good place heading into the start of the 2015 season.
"This team appreciates each other and values each other's differences and personalities," said Koski. "There's a level of understanding of what it is that we're going to do. I feel that we're much further along today, on the first day of preseason, than we have been in a long time."
Lehigh looks to build upon the 2014 season that saw the Mountain Hawks go 10-8-1 overall and 5-3-1 in league play to earn the No. 4 seed in the Patriot League Tournament. After finishing the 2013 season ranked 187th in the final NCAA men's soccer RPI, Lehigh the 2014 campaign ranked 78th for an outstanding jump of 109 spaces that ranked as the second-best RPI turnaround in Division I. The Mountain Hawks return several key starters, including 87.5 percent of Lehigh's goal scoring offense from last season.
To build upon last year's success, Koski and the coaching staff know it will be important for the team to bond as the unit establishes its style of play.
"We want to establish our defensive and attacking systems," said Koski. "We'd like to figure out who our starting core is going to be. We want to build the team and integrate our freshmen into the culture of the program."
The Mountain Hawks kick off the season on Friday, August 28, at 7 p.m. against Fairleigh Dickinson at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
Like Lehigh men's soccer on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content and team updates throughout the season.
"Preseason is my favorite time of the year," said head coach Dean Koski, who enters his 24th season at the helm. "I've been doing this for many years and I look forward to the energy and excitement of preseason every year."
Seven seniors will be depended upon to lead a balanced group of six juniors, eight sophomores and seven freshmen. Lehigh returns three of its five All-Patriot League selections from a season ago in seniors Jamie Luchini and Brian Vail and junior Justin Worley. The Mountain Hawks are faced with the task of replacing third team All-League goalkeeper Ciaran Nugent and third team All-League defender Ali Famili from last year's campaign. Koski feels that the team is in a good place heading into the start of the 2015 season.
"This team appreciates each other and values each other's differences and personalities," said Koski. "There's a level of understanding of what it is that we're going to do. I feel that we're much further along today, on the first day of preseason, than we have been in a long time."
Lehigh looks to build upon the 2014 season that saw the Mountain Hawks go 10-8-1 overall and 5-3-1 in league play to earn the No. 4 seed in the Patriot League Tournament. After finishing the 2013 season ranked 187th in the final NCAA men's soccer RPI, Lehigh the 2014 campaign ranked 78th for an outstanding jump of 109 spaces that ranked as the second-best RPI turnaround in Division I. The Mountain Hawks return several key starters, including 87.5 percent of Lehigh's goal scoring offense from last season.
To build upon last year's success, Koski and the coaching staff know it will be important for the team to bond as the unit establishes its style of play.
"We want to establish our defensive and attacking systems," said Koski. "We'd like to figure out who our starting core is going to be. We want to build the team and integrate our freshmen into the culture of the program."
The Mountain Hawks kick off the season on Friday, August 28, at 7 p.m. against Fairleigh Dickinson at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
Like Lehigh men's soccer on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive content and team updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
M/D
/ Men's Soccer
F/M
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
M/D
/ Men's Soccer
D
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