Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Nathan LaGrave Named Patriot League Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year
11/2/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 2, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the fifth consecutive year a Bucknell men's soccer player was honored by the Patriot League in its individual postseason awards as freshman forward Nathan LaGrave (Okinawa, Japan/Kadena) picked up Rookie of the Year plaudits at the championship banquet Thursday evening. LaGrave joined Adam Edwards, who was honored in 2002, as the only Bison to be named Rookie of the Year.
With a team-high six goals this year LaGrave has the most by a Bucknell freshman since Scott Gilroy netted eight a decade ago. A two-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week this season, LaGrave leads all conference freshmen in shots, points, points per game and goals. He also paces the Bison in points (16) and is tied for most on the squad with four assists.
A starter in 15 of 19 matches this season, LaGrave has scored five of his six goals at Bucknell's Varsity Soccer Field. He had a four-game stretch earlier this season when he netted four goals and one assist, including a two-goal showing against St. Bonaventure.
> Named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week following that two-goal output, LaGrave has scored two goals in the last four matches, including the game-winner in a 2-0 victory over Navy last Saturday that helped the Bison clinch their third postseason berth in the last four years.
Bucknell has had at least one player honored with an individual postseason award from the Patriot League in each of the last five years and in six of the last seven. Last fall Edwards was named Goalkeeper of the Year and classmate Tim Faneck earned Bucknell's third consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award. Overall, LaGrave's trophy is the ninth for a Bison men's soccer player.
Fourth-seeded Bucknell will take on top-seeded Lehigh in the semifinals of the Patriot League Tournament Friday at 7:30 p.m.
