Bucknell University Athletics
Former Bison Soccer Star Conor O'Brien Featured in New York Times
5/2/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
May 2, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. --Former Bucknell men's soccer standout Conor O'Brien '10 is now excelling in the Danish Superliga for Sonderjyske. He recently moved into the starting lineup as a central midfielder, and O'Brien's emergence has coincided with Sonderjyske's seven-game unbeaten streak that has propeled the club up the standings.
O'Brien was featured in a story by Brian Sciaretta in Tuesday's New York Times soccer blog.
O'Brien, who played for second-division Blokhus FC in Denmark in 2010-11, was one of 15 semifinalists for the 2009 Hermann Trophy, which is soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy as the national player of the year. He earned NSCAA Second Team All-America honors, becoming the first Bucknell soccer All-American in 33 years, and he was named the Philly Soccer News Men's College Player of the Year.
O'Brien, who turned heads with a strong performance at the MLS combine in January 2010, 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 wrapped up his magnificent 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.
