Bucknell Men's Soccer Dominates All-Patriot League Squad
11/12/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 12, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell junior Michael Lookingland II (Fallston, Md./Loyola) was named the Patriot League's Defensive Player of the Year, sophomore Scott Visnic (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) was tabbed the league's Offensive Player of the Year, and five other Bison men's soccer players earned all-league recognition in 2003, announced by the Patriot League today, November 12.
Lookingland and Visnic were joined by senior Chris Beekman (Neptune, N.J./Neptune), junior Ori Adrabi (West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real), and sophomore Adam Edwards (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown) on the league's first-team. Sophomore Eric Brunton (McLean, Va./Carmel (Ind.)) and senior Brian King (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) were also all-league selections, earning second-team honors. Seven players on the all-league teams are the most by any school in Patriot League history.
In addition to his seven players, head coach Brendan Nash, in his fifth season at the helm, was chosen by his peers as the 2003 Patriot League Men's Soccer Coach of the Year. This year marks the second time he has won the award (2000), and both times were after the Bison clinched at least a share of the regular-season Patriot League crown. Nash led the Orange and Blue to the first undefeated league mark in school history at 5-0-2 and an 11-6-2 overall record.
 Junior Michael Lookingland was tabbed the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.  |
|
Lookingland is making his second-straight appearance on the all-league squad, earning his first selection to the first-team. The defender becomes just the second player in school history to be named the Defensive Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of Bill Epley in 2000. A starter in every game of his career, Lookingland has been the defensive leader on a squad that has posted nine shutouts this season, just one shy of the school record set a year ago. In addition to his defensive abilities, the co-captain also got involved offensively, scoring once and assisting on two goals. His lone goal of the season was a penalty kick in a 1-0 victory over Lafayette.
Visnic caps an outstanding sophomore campaign with the league's top offensive honor. He is the first Bucknell player to earn the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award. This season, Visnic has scored a team and league-best 12 goals to go along with three assists for 27 points. The first Bison since the 1993 season to score 12 goals in a single-season, his goal total ranks eighth on the Bucknell single-season list, and 10th on the Patriot League's same list. The speedy forward also stands in eighth and 10th, respectively, on the Bucknell and Patriot League single-season points lists. On the year, half of Visnic's scores have been game-winners, also tops in the league. Included in his offensive onslaught throughout the season was the first Bucknell hat-trick since 1999 in a 6-3 win at Philadelphia University, and the lone goal in a 1-0 upset victory over No. 2 Maryland, the biggest upset in school history.
Beekman is making his first appearance on the All-Patriot League team, getting the nod on the first-team. An offensive threat throughout his four years, Beekman definitely saved his best for last. The midfielder has scored a career-best six goals, in addition to two assists, for a career-high 14 points. After scoring a goal in Bucknell's 4-3 loss to Loyola Marymount at the Air Force Invitational, Beekman was recognized for
his play during the weekend with a spot on the all-tournament squad. One of only five players to play in and start all 19 games this season, Beekman is second on the squad in goals and points. With 17 career scores and eight helpers for 42 points, Beekman stands just outside the Bucknell top-ten career lists for goals and points.
Another midfielder earning his first career all-league recognition is Adrabi. With two goals and six assists this season, Adrabi has reached career-high's in both categories. His six helpers are tied for second on the team, bettering his former career-best by three. One of five players on the team with double-figure points this season, Adrabi has accumulated 18 points in his career with four goals and 10 assists.
Edwards picked up his sophomore campaign right where he left off as a rookie, capturing his first selection to the all-league first-team. The 2002 Rookie of the Year and a second-team all-star, Edwards allowed just three goals in seven Patriot League contests this season for a league-best 0.34 goals against average in conference play. He has registered eight of Bucknell's nine shutouts on the year, giving him 18 in his career and placing him eighth on the Patriot League list. Edwards ended the regular-season with a solid stretch of play, not allowing a goal in his last 201:08 minutes of action. Included in that stretch was an eight-save shutout against No. 2 Maryland, earning him the NCAAsports.com Student-Athlete of the Week selection.
Brunton is one of Bucknell's second-team honorees after a solid sophomore season. Brunton teamed up with Visnic on the front line to score four goals of his own, and assist on six others. Of his six helpers, four were to set up a Visnic score, and with 16 goals between the two of them, the potent duo accounted for over half of BU's goals during the year. The six assists is a career-high for Brunton, while his four goals match his total from his rookie campaign. The forward has shown a knack for finding the back of the net with the game on the line, as five of his eight career goals have been game-winners, including two this season.
BU's final representative on the all-league second-team is King. King has been a mainstay in the Bison defense since his arrival in 2000. The two-year captain has started 67 of the 68 games he has played in, and has been the leader on a defensive unit that has posted 29 shutouts during his four-year career. This season, King also found his offensive touch, tallying the first points of his career. After handing out his first assist in a 6-3 win at Philadelphia University, King went on to record at least one point in three of the next four games, including his first career goal against St. Francis (Pa.). On the season, King has one score and three helpers for five points.
The Orange and Blue are 11-6-2 overall and 5-0-2 in the Patriot League. BU completed the first unbeaten PL season in school history, in the process claiming the regular-season title for just the third time.
The Bison will host the Patriot League Championship Tournament on Friday and Sunday, November 14 and 16. The first game of the day, #2 Lafayette vs. #3 Holy Cross, will kick off at 11:00 a.m. Top-seeded Bucknell and #4 Lehigh will play at 1:30 p.m. The championship game will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 16.
Following is a complete listing of the 2003 All-Patriot League Teams:
| 2003 Patriot League Men's Soccer All-League Teams | |||
| FIRST TEAM | |||
| NAME | YEAR | SCHOOL | PREVIOUS HONORS |
| FORWARDS | ? | ? | ? |
| Scott Visnic | So. | Bucknell | ? |
| Jonathan Cook | Jr. | Colgate | 2nd in '02 |
| Jamie Mullarkey | Sr. | Lafayette | 2nd in '01 |
| Steve Fisher | Sr. | Lehigh | ? |
| MIDFIELDERS | ? | ? | ? |
| Chris Beekman | Sr. | Bucknell | ? |
| Ori Adrabi | Jr. | Bucknell | ? |
| Chris Napolitano | Sr. | Holy Cross | 2nd in '01, 1st in '02 |
| DEFENDERS | ? | ? | ? |
| Michael Lookingland II | Jr. | Bucknell | 2nd in '02 |
| Tom Wajda | Sr. | Lafayette | 1st in '02 |
| Doug Cusick | Sr. | Lehigh | 2nd in '02; 1st in '01, ROY & 2nd in '00 |
| GOALKEEPER | ? | ? | ? |
| Adam Edwards | So. | Bucknell | ROY & 2nd in '02 |
| SECOND TEAM | |||
| FORWARDS | ? | ? | ? |
| Lloyd Osafo | Jr. | Army | 2nd in '01, 2nd in '02 |
| Eric Brunton | So. | Bucknell | ? |
| MIDFIELDERS | ? | ? | ? |
| Josh Trott | Fr. | Holy Cross | ? |
| Reed Grimes | Jr. | Colgate | ? |
| Jon Gelman | Sr. | Colgate | ? |
| Matt Battiste | Sr. | Lafayette | ? |
| Peter Classi | So. | Lehigh | ? |
| DEFENDERS | ? | ? | ? |
| Brian King | Sr. | Bucknell | ? |
| Wes Roach | Sr. | Lehigh | ? |
| Danny Urbanczyk | Sr. | Navy | ? |
| GOALKEEPER | ? | ? | ? |
| Sam Bishop | Jr. | Lehigh | ? |
BRINE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Scott Visnic, Bucknell, So., F
BRINE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Michael Lookingland II, Bucknell, Jr., D
BRINE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Josh Trott, Holy Cross, Fr., F
BRINE COACH OF THE YEAR: Brendan Nash, Bucknell (2nd time; also in 2000)