Lehigh ranked No. 16 by College Soccer News
Posted: August 3, 2007
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – College Soccer News recently announced its 2007 preseason top-30 national poll and Lehigh checks in at No. 16. The Mountain Hawks are coming off one of the finest seasons in school history in 2006 when they won a school record 15 matches and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. UCLA is ranked No. 1 in the poll, followed by Duke, UC Santa Barbara, Wake Forest and Santa Clara. Lehigh is the only Patriot League school ranked in the poll.
Two Mountain Hawk opponents are ranked in the poll, including Maryland (No. 9) and Rutgers (No. 24). Lehigh travels to College Park, Maryland to take on the Terrapins on October 9 while the Scarlet Knights make the trip to Bethlehem from New Jersey on September 14.
Lehigh returns a strong contingent of players from last season’s record breaking squad, including seniors Joe Clemente, Mike Hessemer and Patrick Starsinic, juniors Jim Taranto and Adam Gazda and sophomores Adam Welch and Jesse Schram. The Mountain Hawks finished the 2006 season ranked No. 13 in America as they became the first team in Patriot League history to finish the regular season unbeaten and untied (7-0-0).
Lehigh opens its 2007 season on September 1 when the Mountain Hawks welcome the Drexel Dragons to the Ulrich Sports Complex. Start time is slated for 7:00.