South Mountaineer Volume 42, Issue 01

              SouihMountaineer
Volume 13, Issue 1
Lehigh University Athletics Weekly
September 1,1999
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Jackson Heads Talented
Men's Soccer Team
With a 13-5-1 record last season,
the Lehigh soccer team finished
its 1998 campaign with one of
the most successful seasons in
the 86-year history of the program.
The 1999 season looks promising for the Mountain Hawks as
eighth year Head Coach Dean
Koski returns the majority of
last season's crop, including
eight letterwinners and two All-
League selections.
"Having Nate Laver, Spencer Gerberding, Brady Ryan,
Andrew Casey, Kevin Jackson and Andrew Soisson return with subtantial experience
provides us with a strong
nucleus," comments Koski.
Last year Lehigh finished second in the Patriot League tournament and regular season and
was ranked in the top 10 regionally for most of the year.
Major losses due to graduation include forward Andrew
Mittendorf, the most prolific
scorer in Patriot League history,
forward Gus Zangrilli, a 1998
and 1999 NCAA assists leader;
and goalkeeper Mike Carberry,
a Second Team All-League pick.
"We need to focus on what we
have to do as a team in order to
compete for a Patriot League
Championship."
Returning for his senior campaign is co-captain Kevin Jackson. The 1998 Regional All-
American was one of the league's
top ten scorers. Jackson amassed
six goals and five assists and was
also named to the All-League
First Team. Koski will also rely
on co-captain Andrew Soisson to
lead the defensive unit. Soisson
finished last season with two
assists.
"This is Kevin Jackson's year
and this is Jackson's team. It is
essential that Jackson leads our
team through his contributions
as a player and captain,"said
Koski.
• Koski will also look to his
newcomers to add depth in key
spots.
"We've had a tremendous recruiting year and.I fully expect
some freshmen to make some
immediate contributions."
The Mountain Hawks tied the
school record for most wins in a
season last year, and Koski has
added some of the nation's strongest soccer programs to this
season's schedule.
The 1999 tournament schedule includes Syracuse at the St.
John's Classic, the University of
North Carolina-Chapel Hill and
tne University of North Carolina- Greensboro at the Nike
Classic in Chapel Hill, NC. The
Lehigh squad will also host non-
league opponents Richmond,
Hartwick and Pennsylvania.
The tough non-league opponents are crucial for the Mountain Hawks' success in the very
competitive Patriot League race.
"Our first objective is to make
the playoffs. From there we will
fight to make the finals, said
Koski."
Lehigh Seeks to Repeat
It will be difficult for Lehigh
to top its 1998 season. An un
defeated regular season, a playoff appearance
and a first round playoff win all contributed to
making it one of the most successful campaigns
in school history. Lehigh will look to defend its
Patriot League title and replace some key players who left due to graduation.
Patriot League Player of the Year Phil
Stambaugh, Lehigh's all-time completion
precentage leader, returns for his senior year at
quarterback.
The loss of Brian Baker (130 rushes for 753
yards) is alleviated by the emergence of senior
tailback Ron Jean (177 rushes for 949 yards and
13 touchdowns). Jean was a First Team All-Patriot
League honoree. Sophomores Jamaal Burcher
and Phil Pleasant were impressive in limited
action.
Senior fullback Brett Snyder will continue to
open up holes for Lehigh's running backs.
Lehigh loses two of its top three wide receivers
with the departures of Deron Braswell and Joe
Falzone. Senior flanker Kody Fedorcha has had
50 or more receptions the last two seasons and will
be Stambaugh's prime target. Sophomores Rick
Moore (16 rec, 219 yds., 3 TD), Brian Endler (5
rec, 35 yds.), and Josh Snyder (2 rec, 37 yds., 1
TD) should also play significant roles.
At tight end, as senior Bruce Peltzer (8 rec,
153 yds., 1 TD) will be the full-time starter, replacing R.J. Ryan (10 rec, 126 yds.).
Only two of the five starting interior offensive
linemen - Rich Bodnar and John Stiegler are gone.
All league selection Steve Ludwig returns at right
tackle. Senior Ryan Sullivan remains at left
tackle and junior Brian McDonald returns at
right guard. Seniors Phil Anderson and Michael
Ludwig and junior Josue Leon could all step into
the starting lineup.
The defense has some big holes to fill, but a
number of players proved their worth last season.
Left defensive end Nick Martucci will be sorely
missed. The Mountain Hawks return three starters in Trey Slaton, Dave Petett, and Roobhenn
Smith. Matt Grainger, Dan Guzevich,
Michael Emory, and Jason Stanley will all
battle for the fourth spot and contribute as extra
linemen.
The linebacking corps remains intact. First
Team All-Patriot League selection Ian Eason will
lead the unit, one which also includes juniors
Bryant Appling, Brendan Moore, and James
"Bubba" Young. Moore and Young will battle for
Phil Stambaugh '00
Rob Upton
the third position behind Eason and Appling and
seniors Alex Clift and Tom Oropeza will also
see significant playing time.
A secondary that showed the importance of experience last season now will have to compensate
for the loss of three of its four members. The lone
returning starter is senior cornerback Kevin Joseph. A trio of juniors will step into the vacated
positions, two of which were occupied by First
Team all-league members Sam Brinley and
Saundrell Davison. Nico Carwll and Matt
Andrews both saw time in the secondary last season and are expected to start in 1999. Sophomore
Abdul Byron and senior Jesse Shaw will battle
for the strong safety position.
The kicking game could not be any more solid,
as junior First team All-Patriot League kicker
Jaron Taaffe (44-44 PAT's) and sophomore First
team All-Patriot League punter Jay Heibel (40.0
avg.) resume their duties.
The 1999 schedule includes a tough road game
at Delaware (10/16) and also a new face in the form
of Monmouth (9/18).
Next Issue:
More
Lehigh Fall
Sports
Previews
Football '99
1998 Overall Record
League Record (Finish)
Offensive Formation
Defensive Formation
Lettermen Returning
Lettermen Lost
Starters Returning
Starters Lost
12-1
6-0 (League Champions)
Multiple
Multiple
Total Offense Defense Special Teams
39 19 18           2
17 6 10            1
15 7 6             2
9 4 5              0
Held Hockey Adds Home
Field Advantage
With only four starters lost to
graduation, 11 letterwinners returning and a new home field,
the field hockey team is optimistic heading into the 1999 campaign.
One of the main highlights of
the season is the team's move
into the multimillion dollar turf
stadium, which has not yet been
named. Although the facility is
still under construction, the
team will play its 1999 home
schedule on the field. The stadium is also home to the Lehigh
men's and women's lacrosse
teams.
"The consistency of the new
astroturf surface will improve
our stickwork skills and force us
to become a quick decision making team," said fourth year head
coach Michelle Finegan. "The
advantage of playing on the field
will continue to grow as the team
gains experience. This also
shows the university's commitment to the field hockey program."
Leading the Mountain Hawks
scoring attack are senior co-captain Stephanie Henry and senior Kate Hopping. Last sea-
, son, the duo combined for 12 of
the team's 25 goals and six assists. Henry led the Lehigh
squad in goals, assists and
points. She connected seven
times with the net, and had five
assists, which earned her 19
points. Hopping netted five goals
and notched one assist. She was
the team's third leading scorer.
Other forwards include senior
Kim Walker (one goal and one
assist), sophomore Michelle
Wildgen (one goal), and Anne
Marie Barker (one goal and one
assist).
The Lehigh backfield is led
this year by senior co-captain
Lesley Havens and senior Jodi
Renner. Both Havens and
Renner started every game for
the Mountain Hawks last year.
Joining Havens and Renner on
the field are junior Kristy
McHale and sophomore
Stephanie Hahn. McHale
played in all 17 of the Mountain
Hawks games last season and
earned one assist. Hahn played
in seven games and started in
one.
Finegan said she will look to
senior Megan Calhoun to help
control the defense. "She is very
astute in learning about the defensive positioning on the field
and communicating it to her
teammates." Junior Patrice
Alvino will be called upon to
strengthen the defense. Alvino
played in 10 games last season
and helped Lehigh win at Rider
on its home field last year 4-1.
In goal are seniors Christine
Metz and Tory Griffing. Metz
started 12 games and notched
five wins and two shutouts in her
junior campaign. Last season,
Griffing started five games winning two and recording a shutout.
This season's schedule features some of the region's toughest field hockey programs including nationally-ranked Delaware
and Dartmouth. Lehigh hopes to
improve on last season's 1-5 Patriot League record.