Bucknell University Athletics
Trio of Bison Earn Patriot League Men's Soccer Awards
10/30/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - A trio of Bucknell men's soccer players were honored by the Patriot League Monday following a week in which the Bison clinched a Patriot League Tournament berth with a 2-0 victory over Navy. Joey Kuterbach (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week, while Joe Mellott (Highland, Md./Mount St. Joseph) earned Defensive Player of the Week honors. Nathan LaGrave (Okinawa, Japan/Kadena) rounded out the list with his second Rookie of the Week plaudit of the season.
Kuterbach picked up his second Goalkeeper of the Week award after he registered his sixth shutout of the season against Navy. The junior made two saves in the contest to up his season total to 92, equaling the most by a Bison since Nathan Fitzgerald stopped 118 shots in 1999. With six shutouts, Kuterbach ranks third in the league, while he tops all PL goalkeepers with his 92 saves.
Joe Mellott was named PL Defensive Player of the Week.  |
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A starter in all 19 games this year, Kuterbach has played every minute in goal this season for the Bison. He has now won four Patriot League awards in his career. He earned PL Defensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week one time each as a freshman.
Mellott earned his first career honor from the Patriot League with his performances against Maryland and Navy. The junior tallied assists on both goals against the Mids on Saturday to boost his season total to four, equaling LaGrave for the team lead. Mellott now has nine assists in his career to stand just four shy of 10th place on Bucknell's career list. His strong defense also played a part in the Bison recording their sixth shutout of the season and limiting the high-powered Maryland attack to just one goal over the final 79 minutes of the match.
Nathan LaGrave copped Patriot League Rookie of the Week plaudits. |
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With six goals this season, LaGrave is Bucknell's highest-scoring freshman since Bill Gilroy netted eight scores in 1996. He also leads the team in points (16) and ranks tied for fifth in the league in that category.
With their win over Navy and Army's victory over American this past Saturday, the Bison clinched a spot in the Patriot League Tournament as the fourth seed. Bucknell will take on top-seeded Lehigh Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Bethlehem, Pa. The Bison are in the postseason for the third time in the last four years.
