Nov. 14, 2007
Worcester, Mass. - The 2007 Patriot League Men's Soccer Major Award Winners were announced at Thursday night's Championship Banquet on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross, the host of the men's soccer tournament. Colgate's Eric Anton was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, while Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors went to Colgate's Dan Belke. The Patriot League Goalkeeper award went to Bucknell's Joey Kuterbach. Holy Cross's Kyle Miller was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Rounding out the voting was Holy Cross's Elvis Comrie, who brought home the Patriot League Coach of the Year plaque.
Anton has led the Raiders offensive attack all season long. The senior forward has tallied four goals this season, and has led the Raiders to the No. 2 seed in this weekend's Patriot League Men's Soccer Tournament. Anton was recently named First-Team All-Patriot League, marking the second time in his career that he has been selected All-Patriot League. He becomes the first Colgate student-athlete to win the award since Bobby Newman in 1994.
Belke has been the ring leader of Colgate's suffocating defensive unit. The Raiders have given up just 15 goals this season, and only three in League play. Belke also has one game-winning goal this season, to go along with two assists. He has been named BRINE Defensive Player of the Week three times this season, and becomes the first Raider to win the award since Fred Song in 1997.
Kuterbach has been absolutely sensational in a year where Patriot League goalkeepers have been unbelievable. As a League, the Patriot League goalkeepers have combined to post 57 shutouts, and Kuterbach has accounted for eight of those by himself. The senior has allowed only 14 goals against this season, and has a goals against average of 0.75, which ranks him 35th in the nation. He has posted 71 saves and a save percentage of 0.835 while leading the Bison back to the Patriot League Tournament. Kuterbach has been named BRINE Goalkeeper of the Week three times this season, and becomes the second Bucknell goalkeeper to win in the four-year history of the award.
Miller has been a dominating force up front for the Crusaders this season. He leads all Patriot League freshmen in points and goals with 15 and seven, respectively, and also finds himself in the League's top-10 overall for both categories. Miller has been named BRINE Offensive Player of the Week once this season, and is the third Crusader to win the award and the first since 2003 when Josh Trott was named rookie of the year.
Comrie earns his fourth Coach of the Year award after guiding his Crusaders to an undefeated 4-0-3 mark in League play. The Crusaders were predicted to finish eighth in the preseason poll, but Comrie has orchestrated a successful season and a regular-season title.
The 2007 Patriot League Men's Soccer Tournament will get underway tomorrow afternoon. No. 1 Holy Cross will host No. 4 Lafayette at 3 p.m., while No. 2 Colgate will take on No. 3 Bucknell at 6 p.m. The winners of the two semifinal games will square off in the championship game at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
All three games of the Patriot League Men's Soccer Tournament will be broadcast live via the Patriot League's All-Access package. For more information, please visit the Patriot League website and click on the All-Access logo on the front page or click here.
Offensive Player of the Year Eric Anton, Colgate
Defensive Player of the Year Dan Belke, Colgate
Goalkeeper of the Year Joey Kuterbach, Bucknell
Rookie of the Year Kyle Miller, Holy Cross
Coach of the Year Elvis Comrie, Holy Cross
