Behrend Men's Soccer Earns Invitation to 2003
NCAA Tournament
The Penn State Behrend men's soccer team earned the program's
first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. The Behrend Lions (14-4-2) will be
battling the defending 2002 National Champions, Messiah College
(17-2-2) on Friday, November 14 at 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. in
Salisbury, MD. Both teams received a first-round bye.
"Our players are very enthusiastic about our opportunity in the NCAA Tournament," said eleventh-year head coach Dan Perritano. "We have played very well as of late and we want to make the most of this opportunity." This marks four of the past five seasons that the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference tournament champions have advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Behrend Lions hosted the AMCC Championship match this past Saturday, November 8, and defeated league foe Frostburg 1-0 to win their third title in seven years. The team's fourteenth victory established a new school mark for wins in a season.
Leading the Behrend Lions offensive attack will be senior captain Andy Laver (Erie/McDowell) in the midfield. Laver has posted a team high ten goals and six assists entering into the NCAA Tournament. The defense for the blue and white will be led by senior captain Jake Hordych (North East/North East) in goal. In the regular season Hordych posted more shut-outs (nine) than any other keeper in the AMCC, and the Behrend defense as a whole had the best goals against average in the conference, allowing only 0.82 goals per game.
Under head coach Dan Perritano the blue and white is an impressive 116-87-14.
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