Tues./Sat., Oct. 13/Oct. 17 – vs. Cornell (Ithaca, N.Y.)/vs. Lafayette (Easton, Pa.), 7 p.m./7 p.m.
The Raiders are back on the road this week as they take on long-time foe Cornell, followed by a Patriot League match-up against Lafayette. The team will travel to Ithaca on Tuesday, then down to Easton, Pa., to face the Leopards on Saturday.
Scouting the Opposition
Cornell – The Big Red is 4-3-3 on the season, and is currently on a three-game unbeaten streak, as they've tied their last two outings against Penn and Harvard. Cornell's last victory came at the expense of Long Island University, where the Big Red defeated the Blackbirds 2-1 on Sept. 27. Cornell, who has scored 8-of-its-12 goals in the second half, have four players with two goals apiece. Matt Bouraee, Brett Sumpio, Chase Aaronson and Kyle Parsons have all found the back of the net twice this season, while Bouraee also has five assists for a team-high nine points. Backstopping the Big Red is Scott Brody who has started all 10 games, garnering a 1.32 goals against average and has recorded two shutouts.
Lafayette – Lafayette will play Penn State before hosting the Raiders on Saturday, but currently carry a 7-3-1 overall record going to the Nittany Lions. The Leopards will entertain Colgate with holding a perfect 5-0 home record. They are led by junior B.J. Glenn and freshman Sean Peckham who have each scored four goals for the Leopards. Fellow freshman Blake Fink is the team leader in shots, taking 25, but only converting on one. Philip Nelson has been the most active goalkeeper for Lafayette, seeing action in nine games, only allowing seven goals and posting six shutout performances.
Last Time Out
The Raiders went 1-0-1 in their last two matches, playing to 0-0 tie with Hartwick on Oct. 6th, and defeating the Black Knights of Army, 4-2, on Oct. 10th. Freshman Shane Conlin (Randolph, N.J.) scored two goals in the Army game, including the game-winner, while both Alex Weekes (Stroudsburg, Pa.) and Mike Reidy (Webster, N.Y.) also picked up a tally.
Last Time vs. Cornell/Lafayette
The last time Colgate faced its inter-state rival, the Raiders earned the victory, out-shooting Cornell, 26-7, and walking off the pitch with a 2-0 win. Matt Schuber (Webster, N.Y.) came off the bench that game and buried his fourth of the season, while Weekes added the insurance goal in the 81st minute.
The Leopards will look to seek some revenge against Colgate this weekend, as the Raiders knocked off Lafayette in the Patriot League semifinal game last season, 2-0. Steven Miller (Ivyland, Pa.) is the returning goal scorer for the Raiders in that tournament game. The Raiders went on to take the Patriot League Championship after dropping Lafayette last year.
Weekly Honors
Four men's soccer student-athletes have been awarded Patriot League weekly honors since the start of the 2009 season. Shane Conlin, Alex Weekes, Mike Reidy and goalkeeper Chris Miller have each received the honors. Weekes was named Offensive Player of Week while Reidy each received Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sept. 13. The following week Miller earned goalkeeper of the week honors. Most recently, Conlin was named Rookie of the Week on Oct. 12, after his two goal performance against Army.
Lucky at Home
The Raiders are currently 10-0-1 at home, an unbeaten streak dating back to last year's loss to Holy Cross, on Sept. 27, 2008.
Preseason Picks
For the second year in a row the Colgate men's soccer team was selected to finish first in the Patriot League preseason poll. The Raiders collected the most points with 95 and most first-place votes with 12. Last year Colgate won both the regular season and championship titles adding to its championship title from the 2007 season.
Top Notch
Senior Alex Weekes and freshman Mike Reidylead the Raiders in scoring this season, notching eleven points apiece. Reidy leads the team in goals with five, while Weekes has posted four goals and three assists. Fellow seniors Chris Ross (Hurst, Texas) and Chris Salmon (Auburn, Wash.) are also on the board this season with Ross collecting one goal and two assists and Salmon tallying one of each. Junior Jeff Leach (New Canaan, Conn.) also has a goal and two assists while freshman Shane Conlin rounds out the Raiders scoring column with three goals and one assist. Junior goalie Chris Miller has started in seven games, earning a record of 4-3, including one shutout. Miller posts a save percentage of .786.
Nationally Recognized
Two Colgate soccer players have been recognized by national organizations so far this season. Senior forward Alex Weekes has been named to the 2009 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List. The List is comprised of the 38 best men's Division I intercollegiate soccer players and is college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy. In addition, freshman midfielder Mike Reidywas selected as one of College Soccer News' 100 Freshman to Keep An Eye On in 2009.
The Ronning File
Head coach Erik Ronning will begin his fifth season at the helm of the Colgate men's soccer program. In just four short years, Ronning has brought the Raiders to the Patriot League Tournament four times and won the title the past two seasons to earn consecutive NCAA Tournament bids. With a Colgate win total of 38 games, Ronning will look to earn his 50th career victory during the 2009 season.
Looking Ahead
The Raiders will be back on the road after this week, having to travel to Princeton, N.J., on Oct. 20th to take on the Tigers, then will come back home to host Bucknell on Oct. 24th.
