Colgate University Athletics

Saturday, November 7, vs. American (Washington, D.C.), 1 p.m.

 

The Colgate men’s soccer team wraps up its regular season schedule in Washington, D.C., as they play a crucial Patriot league contest against American University at 1 p.m.

 

American, who will also cap off its regular season this weekend, was the first team to clinch a berth in the Patriot League tournament going unbeaten in conference games until last weekend, when they fell to Holy Cross, 2-0. Two junior forwards, Daniel Shannon and Mike Worden lead the way for the Eagles, scoring four goals apiece. Shannon, who is tops on the team in points also has five assists for 13 points. Six other Eagles have scored two goals, balancing out an offense that is ranked third in the league in goals. Sophomore Matt Makowski has made all but two starts in net for American, holding an 8-4-2 record and a 1.11 goals against average with 51 saves.

 

The last time these two teams met, it was Colgate who got the victory and clinched them a spot in the league tournament, which they eventually went on to win. Now senior, Alex Weekes (Stroudsburg, Pa.) scored the games lone in the fourth minute of the game, with an assist credited to Chris Ross (Hurst, Texas). The Eagles, who haven’t earned a victory against Colgate since 2005, will try to keep the Raiders out of the post season tournament with a win this weekend.

 

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 (Webster, N.Y.) and goalkeeper Chris Miller (Dallas, Texas) 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.

 

Senior Alex Weekes and freshman Mike Reidy lead the Raiders in scoring this season, with Weekes tallying 16 points and Reidy with 15. Reidy leads the team in goals with seven, while Weekes has posted six goals and four assists. Fellow seniors Chris Ross and Chris Salmon (Auburn, Wash.) are also on the board this season, with Ross collecting two goals and four assists and Salmon tallying one of each. Junior Jeff Leach (New Canaan, Conn.) also has two goals four assists while freshman Shane Conlin rounds out the Raiders scoring column with three goals and two assists. Junior goalie Chris Miller has started ten games, earning a record of 6-4 including two shutouts. Miller posts a save percentage of .782 and a 1.19 goals against.

 

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 Reidy was selected as one of College Soccer News’ 100 Freshman to Keep An Eye On in 2009.

 

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 45 games, Ronning will look to earn his 50th career victory during the 2009 season.

 

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. 

 

Bucknell and American have already clinched spots in the Patriot League tournament with 15 and 13 points respectively. Lehigh, Holy Cross, Lafayette and Colgate are all vying for the final two places.