Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Burgdorf, Alli Named to Men's Soccer Preseason All-Patriot League Team
8/21/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 21, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell senior Preseason\ All\-Patriot\ League\ Team on Tuesday. Both players are busy gearing up for the team's opener this Friday night at VCU.
After winning back-to-back Patriot League titles in 2009 and 2010, the Bison missed the postseason a year ago. With plenty of experience and a strong first-year class coming on board, pollsters have been undecided on where to pick the Bison heading into the 2012 season. Bucknell was listed sixth in the Patriot League Preseason Coaches' Poll, but the soccer website TopDrawerSoccer.com has the Bison as the preseason favorite to win the league.
Defending champion Colgate was picked first in the Coaches' Poll, followed by American, Lehigh, Navy, Lafayette, Bucknell, Army and Holy Cross.
For the first time this year, the Patriot League conducted a preseason all-league team, voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Burgdorf and Alli represented Bucknell on the 11-man team.
Burgdorf, one of three team captains this fall, was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch list earlier this month, making him a candidate for national player of the year honors. Last year Burgdorf was named the Preseason Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, and he turned in a third straight outstanding season. Even though his goal-scoring numbers fell a bit in 2011, Burgdorf was still very impactful and was a handful for opposing defenses. He finished with two goals -- both coming against nationally ranked opponents in Notre Dame and Indiana -- and a team-high six assists for a total of 10 points. Burgdorf, who was also a Capital One Academic All-District and NSCAA Scholar All-America selection last year, has 17 goals and 10 assists for 44 points in his career.
Burgdorf registered nine goals and two assists as a freshman, helping Bucknell to a Patriot League title and NCAA Tournament berth. He scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over American in the Patriot League final as well as in a 1-0 victory over Princeton in the first round of NCAAs. He was later named to the NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Team, an honor he would achieve again in 2010 and 2011. As a sophomore, Burgdorf led the Bison to another Patriot League championship and NCAA appearance. He led the squad with six goals and 16 points en route to league MVP honors.
Alli was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2010, and he followed that up with a terrific sophomore campaign in 2011. He earned First Team All-Patriot League and Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors a year ago after leading the team in goals (7) and points (16) from his left back position. Alli was a three-time Patriot League Player of the Week last season, winning the offensive award twice and the defensive award once.
His first honor came in early September after scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory over La Salle, with the second strike coming in overtime. Two weeks later he was recognized again after scoring both Bison goals in a 2-0 road win over No. 24 Monmouth. On Oct. 17, Alli earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after a dominating performance in a 3-0 Patriot League win over Holy Cross.
The Bison were strong defensively in a 0-0 home draw with Monmouth on Saturday, and now they are set to open the season with five straight games away from Lewisburg. Bucknell takes on VCU Friday night at 7:30 p.m. on the opening night of the VCU Invitational. The Bison will then face Butler on Sunday at noon. Road matches at Florida Gulf Coast, La Salle and Saint Francis (Pa.) will precede the home opener on Sept. 14 against Adelphi.
