Bucknell University Athletics
Conor O'Brien Named Philly Soccer News Player of Year, Will Appear on CBS-3 in Philadelphia Thursday Morning
1/13/2010 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 13, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) has returned from a successful stint at the Major League Soccer scouting combine, and now his exciting week continues with yet another major award, a Philadelphia television appearance and the possibility of being taken in the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.
O'Brien this week was named the Philly Soccer News Men's College Player of the Year, making him a finalist for the Soccer News Network National Player of the Year Award, which will be announced next week. Earlier, O'Brien was named to the Philly Soccer News Men's College Best XI team.
O'Brien spent the last several days in unseasonably chilly Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., putting his skills to the test in front of scouts from all of the MLS teams in preparation for Thursday's SuperDraft. The 62 prospects were divided into four teams, and each side played three matches in a four-day span. O'Brien's team went 2-1, and he set up the goals in his team's two 1-0 victories. The general consensus among Web reports is that O'Brien improved his draft stock at the combine.
O'Brien and head coach Brendan Nash will talk about the Philly Soccer News Player of the Year Award and his experience at the combine during a live television appearance on the Philadelphia CBS-3 morning show on Thursday. O'Brien and Nash are expected to appear at approximately 8:15 a.m.
After his TV appearance, O'Brien will focus his attention to the draft proceedings. The 16 MLS teams will conduct a four-round draft in Philadelphia, beginning at 2 p.m. Live draft coverage will appear on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com. The expansion Philadelphia Union will have the first pick in the draft.
O'Brien is hoping to become the second Bucknell alum to play in MLS. Two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Michael Lookingland '05 was taken by then-expansion franchise Real Salt Lake with the 13th pick of the 2005 Supplemental Draft. Lookingland made one start for Real Salt Lake in 2005, then went on to become an indoor soccer star for the Baltimore Blast.
In addition to being named one of the 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy, which is soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy, O'Brien earned NSCAA Second Team All-America honors following a terrific 2009 season.
O'Brien in 2009 became only the fourth player in Patriot League history to repeat as the league's Offensive Player of the Year. He was also a First Team All-Patriot League selection after leading the league in goals (11), assists (9) and points (31). More importantly, he co-captained the Bison to a school-record 17 wins, a Patriot League championship and an NCAA Tournament first-round win over Princeton.
It was O'Brien's third All-Patriot League certificate, as he was also a first-team selection in 2008 and a second-team pick as a sophomore in 2007. O'Brien had a point in 17 of the team's 23 games this season, and in 22 of 28 matches dating back to the end of the 2008 season. Seven of his 11 goals were game-winners, the most dramatic of which was his golden goal against Lafayette in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals.
O'Brien won the Jim Lennox Offensive Most Valuable Player Award at the Mayor's Cup early in the season. Bucknell won that tournament with two 1-0 wins over Hartwick and Syracuse, and O'Brien scored both goals. That was part of his school-record 11-game points streak.
O'Brien wrapped up a brilliant career ranked second on Bucknell's career list for assists (25), sixth in points (77) and ninth in goals (26). He is the highest scoring Bison player in the last 20 years.
