Bucknell University Athletics
Adam Edwards and Tim Faneck Cop Postseason Honors from Patriot League
11/9/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell men's soccer senior tri-captains Eric Brunton(Carmel, Ind./Carmel), Adam Edwards (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown) and Tim Faneck (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas) were honored for their performances during the 2005 season Wednesday when they were named to the All-Patriot League First Team. In addition to the first-team accolades, Edwards and Faneck copped individual awards as well. Edwards was named Goalkeeper of the Year, while Faneck earned the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Despite missing the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2002, the Bison tied Lafayette and Lehigh for the most players on the first team with three. American and Holy Cross each had one player on the 11-person first team. Bucknell, which has had at least one player earn an individual award in five of the last six years, picked up a league-most two individual honors with Edwards' and Faneck's awards. Lehigh's Adam Williamson was the Offensive Player of the Year, American's Phil Purdy picked up the Rookie of the Year award, while Navy's Rich Miranda claimed Coach of the Year honors to round out the list of individual awards.
The Bison equaled their second-most selections to the Patriot League First Team in the 16 years of the conference. Five Bucknell players earned first-team accolades in 2003, while three landed on the first team in 1990 and 1993. Brunton, Edwards and Faneck raised Bucknell's total of All-Patriot League First Team selections to 22.
Edwards, who was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-Patriot League selection in 2002, made his second appearance on the first team after earning the same honor in 2003. The Patriot League leader in career shutouts with 27, Edwards broke the 30-year-old Bucknell standard of 24 this season. He completed the 2005 campaign with nine shutouts, the second-best figure in his stellar four-year career. The nine shutouts led the Patriot League this year, three more than second place.
The Downingtown, Pa., native was near the top of the Patriot League statistics in saves and goals-against average as well. He recorded 76 saves to rank second in the conference and increase his career total to 283, which places him sixth on the PL career list. Edwards yielded just 16 goals in 18 games and posted a 0.93 goals-against average to rank third in the Patriot League in 2005 and lower his career figure to 1.00. The four-year starter saved .826 percent of the shots he faced, his best figure since 2002.
Edwards, who started all 18 games, allowed more than one goal on just five occasions this year and registered at least six saves in a game five times, including a career-high 14 against Towson. A three-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week this year, Edwards also copped ECAC Goaltender of the Week accolades twice and Bison Athlete of the Week honors three times.
Tim Faneck was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.  |
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In addition to his strong defense, Faneck provided an offensive boost, especially late in the season. He entered the final week of the season with two career goals, but doubled that figure with scores against Princeton and Navy. He tallied the lone goal in a 1-0 win over the Tigers and helped the Bison open a 2-0 halftime lead by netting the first goal of the game in the season finale against the Mids. He joined Brunton as the only two Bison to score goals in back-to-back games this year. He finished tied with Brunton for best on the team in goals (3) and points (7). Faneck's first goal of the year tied NJIT with nine seconds remaining in regulation and sent the contest to overtime.
In his four-year career, which saw him score four goals and assist on two others, Faneck appeared in 74 games, the most of any member of the four-person senior class.
Eric Brunton was a First Team All-Patriot League choice. |
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The forward appeared in all but one game and made starts in all 17 contests. A veteran of 73 career games, Brunton finished his four-year career with 14 goals, 11 assists and 39 points. The first Bison to score goals in back-to-back matches this season, Brunton tallied Bucknell's lone goal against Rutgers and followed that with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Lafayette to help Edwards break the Bucknell career shutout record.
Entering their final match of the season last Saturday at Navy, the Bison, who finished the season with an 8-6-4 overall record and a 3-3-1 mark in Patriot League play, had a chance to qualify for the Patriot League Tournament for the third consecutive year for the first time in program history with a win over the Mids, but the game ended in a 2-2 tie. Bucknell and Navy finished the regular season tied for fifth in the league standings.
2005 Patriot League Men's Soccer All-League Teams Offensive Player of the Year - Adam Williamson, Lehigh Defensive Player of the Year - Tim Faneck, Bucknell Goalkeeper of the Year - Adam Edwards, Bucknell Rookie of the Year - Phil Purdy, American Coach of the Year - Rich Miranda, NavyFirst Team F - Josh Trott, Holy Cross F - Jim Stevens, Lehigh F - Scott Hawkins, Lafayette M - Adam Williamson, Lehigh M - Sal Caccavale, American M - Eric Brunton, Bucknell M - Thomas Harju, Lafayette D - Luke Sullivan, Lafayette D - John O'Reilly, Lehigh D - Tim Faneck, Bucknell GK - Adam Edwards, Bucknell
Second Team F - Eric Anton, Colgate F - Devin Deane, Colgate M - Ryan McCaughey, Lafayette M - Peter Classi, Lehigh M - Addy Strasdas, Navy M - Garth Juckem, American D - Gordon Templeman, American D - Joe Verdi, Lehigh D - Kevin Leonard, Holy Cross D - Daniel Newell, Army GK - Mike Tortora, Lafayette
