Dec. 18, 2009

Center Valley, Pa.--The 2009 men's soccer season is in the books, as are a host of new records. Among the record-setters are the 2009 Bucknell Bison. Senior Conor O'Brien and his teammates established a new standard for single-season victories, winning 17 of their 23 games and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Patriot League Men's Soccer Release - FINAL

Patriot League Notebook

Bucknell Reaches NCAA Second Round
Patriot League champion Bucknell reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, doing so on the strength of a 1-0 victory over Princeton. 

After a 30-minute weather delay, lightning struck off the foot of Bucknell forward Brendan Burgdorf. The freshman slipped past the defense and snuck a shot into the goal, providing the difference in the Bison’s 1-0 win over Princeton. It was Burgdorf’s second game-winning goal in as many contests.

In the second round, Bucknell was dealt a 5-0 loss by eventual national champion Virginia. The Cavaliers netted four goals in the first 37 minutes. Will Bates started the scoring in the eighth minute, taking a pass from Tony Tchani and lifting 15-yard shot into the goal. Twenty minutes later, Tchani notched another assist. Tchani found Hunter Jumper, who launched a shot from the top of the box inside the near post. Tchani was not done yet, as he added a goal in the 30th minute on a penalty kick. Bates added to Bucknell’s first-half deficit with his second tally of the game, an unassisted goal in the 37th minute.

Virginia out-shot Bucknell by a 15-10 margin, including a 7-5 edge in shots on goal. A total of 22 fouls were called, including nine on Bucknell. Second-Team All-Patriot League Goalkeeper Tommy Caso made two saves in defeat, while Diego Restrepo made five saves for the Cavaliers.

The Bison ended their season with a 17-6-0 record, establishing a new League record for single-season victories.

2009 Patriot League Tournament 
Defense was the name of the game as Bucknell claimed its second Patriot League Championship on its home field in Lewisburg. The top-seeded Bison recorded a 1-0 overtime victory over Lafayette in the opening round. Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Conor O’Brien scored the game-winning goal to move the Bison into the championship round, where they defeated American. The Eagles reached the title game after outdueling Lehigh in penalty kicks. In the championship tilt, Bucknell outlasted the Eagles by a 1-0 score. Bucknell exacted revenge for a 3-1 loss to the Eagles earlier in the season.

O’Brien Piles Honors 
Bucknell senior Conor O’Brien became the Patriot League’s first NSCAA All-American since 2006 when he was named to the Second Team. It is one of many honors for the decorated senior. He was also named to the NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Team. In addition, he was tabbed an ECAC Second-Team All-Star, was listed as a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy and was voted to the Goal.com Team of the Year. Prior to the Patriot League Tournament, O’Brien was named a First-Team All-Patriot League selection and was voted the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He is just the fourth repeat winner of the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award. As a senior, he led the League goals (11), assists (9) and points (31). He co-captained the Bison to a school-record 17 wins, a Patriot League championship and an NCAA Tournament first-round win over Princeton. O’Brien wrapped up his career ranked second on Bucknell's career list for assists (25), sixth in points (77) and ninth in goals (26). He is the highest scoring Bison player in the last 20 years.

Patriot League Teams Earn NSCAA Academic Honors 
Seven soccer teams from six Patriot League schools achieved team grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the 2008-09 academic year. Bucknell was the lone Patriot League school and one just 97 teams in all divisions to have both its men's and women's programs honored with the award. Other men’s soccer teams recognized were American, Colgate and Lafayette.

Twelve Patriot League Players Receive All-Region Nods 
Twelve student-athletes from five Patriot League schools were named to the 2009 NSCAA Men’s Soccer All-Mid-Atlantic Team. Leading the way were First-Team selections Conor O’Brien of Bucknell and Lehigh’s Adam Welch. On the Second Team were players from American, Bucknell, Colgate and Lafayette. Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and First-Team ECAC All-Star Philip Nelson and his teammate, junior forward B.J. Glenn, were the representatives from Lafayette. Another pair of teammates, Colgate’s Alex Weekes and Jeff Leach, were named to the Second Team. O’Brien’s teammate, senior defender Patrick Selwood, was also placed on the Second Team, along with merican senior defender Cooper Bryant. Bucknell teammates Ross Liberati and Brendan Burgdorf received their first All-Region nods, as each was named to the Third Team. Also on the Third Team were Lehigh midfielder Adam Gazda and American forward Mike Worden.

Off To The Combine 
Two Patriot League student-athletes have been invited to participate in the 2010 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine, which will be held Jan. 8-12 at Central Broward Regional Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The coaching and management staffs of all 16 MLS teams will be in attendance to scout talent at the showcase, which concludes two days before the 2010 MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia. Among the 62 college seniors invited to the combine are Bucknell's Conor O'Brien and Lehigh's Adam Welch.

Nash Nets Award 
Bucknell's Brendan Nash, the 2009 Patriot League Men's Soccer Coach of the Year, has been named the Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year by the NSCAA and is a finalist for National Coach of the Year honors.In November, Nash was named Patriot League Coach of the Year for the third time in his career. He also won the award in 2000 and 2003.

Changing Of The Guard 
Army Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson announced Tuesday that former University of Maryland assistant coach Russell Payne has been named the 11th head coach of the Black Knights' men's soccer program.Payne comes to West Point after five years as an assistant coach at national power Maryland.