Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Lands Four Men's Soccer Players on All-Patriot League Team
11/10/2000 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 10, 2000
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior tri-captain Bill Epley (Franklinville, N.J./Delsea Regional) was named the 2000 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and was one of four Bison players to garner all-league recognition, announced at the Patriot League Awards banquet on Friday, November 10, in Easton, Pa. The banquet was held on the campus of Lafayette College, host of the 2000 men's soccer tournament.
Epley was joined by sophomore Nick Taylor (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) on the league's first-team. Seniors Sam Graziano (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo Regional) and Geza Lendvai-Lintner (Madison, N.J./Madison) were also All-League selections for head coach Brendan Nash's team, earning second-team honors. Four players on the all-league teams are the most Bucknell has had since six players were selected to the squads in 1993.
In addition to his four players, Nash, in just his second season at the helm, was chosen by his peers as the 2000 Patriot League Men's Soccer Coach of the Year. Nash led to Bison to a 4-2 league mark and a 9-9-2 overall record. It is the first time Nash has received the award, and only the second time a Bucknell coach has been the recipient of the honor.
Epley, who was selected as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on October 2, anchored the Bucknell back line. He was the catalyst on a Bucknell defensive unit that allowed only six goals in league play - the best by any team in the conference. During the season, Epley was rewarded for his play earning All-Tournament honors in the 2000 Smith Barney Soccer Classic hosted by Vermont and the South Carolina 2000 Gamecock Soccer Classic. In addition to his defensive contribution, Epley notched two goals this season, both of which were game-winners. One of his scores came in an overtime win against then-#8 ranked South Carolina, giving the Bison their first victory over a top-10 team in school history. This is Epley's third-straight selection to the All-League team. As a sophomore, he was named to the first-team, before earning a spot on the second-team last year. It is the first Defensive Player of the Year award for Bucknell in Patriot League history.
Taylor leads the team in scoring with four goals and four assists for 12 points. He was selected to the All-Tournament Teams in both the Smith Barney Classic at Vermont and the 2000 Gamecock Classic at South Carolina. In addition, Taylor was named the Tournament MVP at the Gamecock Classic after scoring the game-tying goal and assisting on the game-winner in the 2-1 upset win. Taylor was named the Patriot League's Offensive Player of the Week on October 22 for his play in that tournament.
Graziano was Bucknell's fifth-leading scorer this season. The midfielder tallied two goals and three assists on the year for seven points. Both of his goals were game-winners as he scored BU's goal in overtime to lift the Bison to a 3-2 victory at Holy Cross. Graziano also tallied Bucknell's final goal in a 2-1 win over Saint Peter's. With an assist in the Orange and Blue's 3-0 win against Colgate, Graziano moved into the top-10 on Bucknell's all-time career assists list with 12.
Lendvai-Lintner was Bucknell's final selection to the all-league team. The forward had an impressive senior season, tallying a career-best four goals and two assists. His 10 points were second-highest on the team, and his three game-winning scores were tops on the squad. Lendvai-Lintner earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week honors on September 25 after scoring two game-winning goals earlier that week. He was the team's second-leading scorer in Patriot League play, notching two goals, both game-winners, and one assist. His score against Colgate in a 3-0 Bucknell win proved to be the game-winner and his overtime goal against Navy gave the Orange and Blue a 2-1 win and put the Bison in the Patriot League playoffs for the first time since 1993.
Bucknell enters the league championship as the second seed behind Lafayette. The Bison face third-seeded Lehigh at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, in Easton, Pa. Holy Cross rounds out the field of four as the fourth seed.
Following is a complete listing of the 2000 All-Patriot League Teams:
First Team: Name Year School FORWARDS Evan Bruno So. Lehigh Matt Ney* So. Holy Cross Brendan Skonieczki Sr. Colgate
MIDFIELDERS Michael Paisant** (O '99, R '97) Sr. Navy Nick Taylor So. Bucknell Pat Montgomery So. Holy Cross Colin Marshall Jr. Lehigh
DEFENDERS Bill Epley** Sr. Bucknell Rusty Guidici* So. Holy Cross Andy Casey* Sr. Lehigh
GOALKEEPER Craig Schroder** Sr. Lafayette Brian Steckroth* (D '99) Jr. Navy
Second Team: FORWARDS Brye Gerhardt Jr. Navy Doug Cusick Fr. Lehigh Geza Lendvai-Lintner Sr. Bucknell Thomas Obaseki* Sr. Army
MIDFIELDERS Sam Graziano Sr. Bucknell Craig Ruhs So. Navy Michael Henes So. Colgate Todd Severson Fr. Army Dan Perciballi* So. Lehigh
DEFENDERS Daniel Neverosky So. Navy Mike Gualtieri Sr. Lafayette Marc Hubbard So. Colgate
*Denotes appearances on All-League team (O/R/D 'Year) - Denotes Offensive, Defensive or Rookie of the Year There was a tie for First Team goalkeeper so no second team selection was awarded.
BRINE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Evan Bruno, So., F, Lehigh BRINE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bill Epley, Sr., D, Bucknell BRINE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Doug Cusick, Fr., F, Lehigh BRINE COACH OF THE YEAR: Brendan Nash, Bucknell (First time)
