Friday, August 27
Bronx, N.Y.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Manhattan
Photo by: Josh Liddick
Lehigh to open season Friday at Manhattan, face Vermont at home Sunday
8/26/2021 12:49:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A brand new season is officially upon us, as the Lehigh men's soccer program opens the 2021 campaign on the road Friday night at Manhattan, taking on the Jaspers at 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks then host Vermont Sunday at the Ulrich Sports Complex at noon.
For any spectators who prefer Physically-Distanced seating, the section at the North end of the bleachers is marked with physically-distanced signage.
Lehigh enters the new season with a ton of hope and potential, following a challenging spring 2021 season, which was shortened to just six games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With just two wins in six tries, the Mountain Hawks missed out on the four-team Patriot League Tournament field, unable to successfully defend their title from 2019.
The program is filled with upperclassmen, including three fifth-year seniors in Stevo Bednarsky, Trevor Koski and Bratislav Petkovic.
When the preseason poll and awards came out a few weeks ago, it was Bednarsky and senior Josh Luchini receiving Preseason All-Patriot League accolades. Bednarsky is a three-time All-Patriot League selection, looking to become just the 14th four-time winner in league history and the fifth Lehigh player to accomplish the feat (since Doug Cusick in 2003).
Luchini returns as the Mountain Hawks' leading scorer from last season where he scored all three of his goals against Bucknell in a 4-1 victory on Mar. 20. Five different players led the way in assists with one (Luchini, Petkovic, Hassane Diakho, Nolan Jetter and Michael Tahiru). In his last full season of play, Luchini scored a league-leading 11 goals and two assists in 2019. For his career, he has scored 20 goals with seven assists for 47 points in three seasons.
Lehigh returns three goalkeepers from last season, with both senior Noah Sutherland and sophomore Blake Koski poised to split starting time this year. Sutherland made a start in the season opener at American last year, while Koski got the starting nod in five matches, making 21 saves with a 1.72 goals against average.
Manhattan comes off a similar 2-4 overall record in MAAC play in the spring, with wins over Iona and Canisius. Leading scorer Brandon Joseph-Buadi returns for his fifth season with the Jaspers after scoring two goals in six games in the spring. Junior Lucas Cyriacus notched two assists to lead his teammates. Danny DiMarco got most of the action in between the pipes, making two starts in five appearances with a 1.14 GAA and 18 saves.
Lehigh is 5-0 all-time against Manhattan, last getting a victory to kick off the 2019 season at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Trevor Koski scored a game-winning goal off a Nick Jennings free kick in the 54th minute to pick up the 1-0 win.
Lehigh will be Vermont's second opponent on the 2021 season as the Catamounts opened play Thursday at Iona. Vermont went 5-2-1 during the spring 2021 season, falling to top-seeded New Hampshire, 2-0 in the America East Championship Game. It comes into this year as the conference's second-ranked team in the preseason. Evan Rouleau scored two goals last season, while Alex Nagy led the team with four assists. Nate Silveira had a strong season last year in goal, stopping 25 shots with a 0.69 GAA and four shutouts.
Sunday's matchup marks just the second meeting between the teams, last playing in 1997 to a scoreless draw at the UNH Fall Classic.
Friday night's match will be streamed live for free on the Jasper Sports Network, while Sunday's home battle vs. Vermont will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
For any spectators who prefer Physically-Distanced seating, the section at the North end of the bleachers is marked with physically-distanced signage.
Lehigh enters the new season with a ton of hope and potential, following a challenging spring 2021 season, which was shortened to just six games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With just two wins in six tries, the Mountain Hawks missed out on the four-team Patriot League Tournament field, unable to successfully defend their title from 2019.
The program is filled with upperclassmen, including three fifth-year seniors in Stevo Bednarsky, Trevor Koski and Bratislav Petkovic.
When the preseason poll and awards came out a few weeks ago, it was Bednarsky and senior Josh Luchini receiving Preseason All-Patriot League accolades. Bednarsky is a three-time All-Patriot League selection, looking to become just the 14th four-time winner in league history and the fifth Lehigh player to accomplish the feat (since Doug Cusick in 2003).
Luchini returns as the Mountain Hawks' leading scorer from last season where he scored all three of his goals against Bucknell in a 4-1 victory on Mar. 20. Five different players led the way in assists with one (Luchini, Petkovic, Hassane Diakho, Nolan Jetter and Michael Tahiru). In his last full season of play, Luchini scored a league-leading 11 goals and two assists in 2019. For his career, he has scored 20 goals with seven assists for 47 points in three seasons.
Lehigh returns three goalkeepers from last season, with both senior Noah Sutherland and sophomore Blake Koski poised to split starting time this year. Sutherland made a start in the season opener at American last year, while Koski got the starting nod in five matches, making 21 saves with a 1.72 goals against average.
Manhattan comes off a similar 2-4 overall record in MAAC play in the spring, with wins over Iona and Canisius. Leading scorer Brandon Joseph-Buadi returns for his fifth season with the Jaspers after scoring two goals in six games in the spring. Junior Lucas Cyriacus notched two assists to lead his teammates. Danny DiMarco got most of the action in between the pipes, making two starts in five appearances with a 1.14 GAA and 18 saves.
Lehigh is 5-0 all-time against Manhattan, last getting a victory to kick off the 2019 season at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Trevor Koski scored a game-winning goal off a Nick Jennings free kick in the 54th minute to pick up the 1-0 win.
Lehigh will be Vermont's second opponent on the 2021 season as the Catamounts opened play Thursday at Iona. Vermont went 5-2-1 during the spring 2021 season, falling to top-seeded New Hampshire, 2-0 in the America East Championship Game. It comes into this year as the conference's second-ranked team in the preseason. Evan Rouleau scored two goals last season, while Alex Nagy led the team with four assists. Nate Silveira had a strong season last year in goal, stopping 25 shots with a 0.69 GAA and four shutouts.
Sunday's matchup marks just the second meeting between the teams, last playing in 1997 to a scoreless draw at the UNH Fall Classic.
Friday night's match will be streamed live for free on the Jasper Sports Network, while Sunday's home battle vs. Vermont will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Players Mentioned
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