Sept. 4, 2012

Patriot League Men's Soccer Release - 9.4.12

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — The 2012 season is fully underway for the Patriot League men’s soccer teams, and this week brings about the heart of the non-League schedule as teams try to build momentum before conference competition begins later this month.

American and Army both notched their second victories of the season last week, while Lafayette and Navy entered the win column for the first time in the fall. The Eagles were outstanding at both ends in a 7-0 triumph over Howard on the first day of the D.C. College Cup, while Navy rebounded from its season-opening loss to defeat Robert Morris, 2-0.

Bucknell, Holy Cross and Lehigh enter the week still seeking their first wins of the year. The Mountain Hawks will get the first crack when they head to St. Peter’s Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Crusaders hit the road Wednesday for a 7 p.m. start at Sacred Heart, while the Bison are next in action Friday at La Salle at 7 p.m.

PATRIOT LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

• Perhaps the biggest match of the upcoming week features Army going on the road to battle No. 18 Louisville Saturday at 7 p.m.

• Colgate was ranked No. 5 in Monday’s NSCAA/Continental Tire Mid-Atlantic top 10, while American and Army were tied for 10th.

• League teams will be road warriors this week. Of the 13 matches between Tuesday and Sunday, only four will take place at home.

• Army has blanked two of its first three opponents for the second straight season.

• Three of the top four slots in scoring are occupied by American student-athletes. Alassane Kane leads the League with nine points, while Colin Seigfreid and Chris Kuramoto are tied for second with five.

• American’s victory over Howard was its most lopsided in the series with the Bison that dates back to 1957. The Eagles have won 10 in a row in the series.

• A pair of League teams will take on La Salle this weekend. Bucknell visits the Explorers Friday night, while Lafayette heads to Philadelphia on Sunday.

• Bucknell freshman keeper Mike Lansing leads the League in saves per game (6.67) and save percentage (.833) despite not having picked up a win.

Patriot League Weekly Awards

BRINE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
COLIN SEIGFREID, AMERICAN Jr., F, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Seigfreid netted a career-high two goals as American blanked Howard 7-0 Thursday on the first day of the D.C. College Cup. He tallied an assist in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to George Mason, giving him five points for the week. Seigfreid was named to the All-Tournament Team.

BRINE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CRISTOBAL SOTO, AMERICAN Jr., D, Santiago, Chile
Soto, a preseason All-League selection, anchored the Eagles’ defense during a 1-1 showing at the D.C. College Cup. American’s stifling defense allowed just three shots on goal in Thursday’s 7-0 win over Howard, with all coming late in the match once the outcome was thoroughly in hand. Soto’s second career goal accounted for American’s scoring in Saturday’s 2-1 double-overtime loss to George Mason.

BRINE GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
WINSTON BOLDT, ARMY So., GK, St. Louis, Mo.
Boldt picked up another shutout, making a pair of saves in the Black Knights’ 3-0 blanking of Iona on Friday evening. Its his second clean sheet of the year and third of his career. Boldt went 1-1-0 for the week with a 1.00 goals-against average.

BRINE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
DEREK VOGEL, NAVY Fr., D, Long Beach, Calif.
Vogel and the Navy defense made crucial adjustments in the Mids’ 2-0 win over Robert Morris. After allowing seven shots in the first 15 minutes, the back line surrendered just four the rest of the match to help preserve the Navy win. Vogel began the match at midfield and played the final 75 minutes on defense, coinciding with the change in the Mids’ defensive success.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
JOSH KOEPPE, ARMY Sr., M, Plano, Texas
Koeppe logged three points on a goal and an assist in Army’s 3-0 victory over Iona on Friday night.

JOE MEYER, BUCKNELL Jr., M, Sykesville, Md.
Trailing 1-0, Meyer scored with just 6:24 remaining in regulation to force overtime in Bucknell’s eventual 2-1 double-overtime loss at Florida Gulf Coast. The Bison were playing most of the match with 10 on the field after a red card in the fourth minute.

ALEC GOLINI, LAFAYETTE Jr., M, Lumberton, N.J.
Golini scored a goal in each of the Leopards’ two matches last week, a 3-2 win over Penn and a 3-1 loss to Quinnipiac.

ALEX WILSON, NAVY Jr., F, Phoenix, Ariz.
Wilson tallied the eventual game-winning goal as his marker in the 21st minute stood up in the Mids’ 2-0 win over Robert Morris.