CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Lehigh senior forward Mark Forrest, Loyola Maryland junior midfielder Barry Sharifi and Army West Point’s Zac McGraw, a junior defender, were selected as the Patriot League Men’s Soccer preseason major award winners, while the Greyhounds finished atop the preseason poll when it was announced by the League office on Tuesday.
2018 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Mark Forrest, Lehigh, Sr., F
The 2017 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year finished his junior campaign with 15 goals and eight assists for 38 total points in 19 games played. Forrest’s 15 goals is tied for the fifth-highest total in League history and is tied for the fourth-highest total in Lehigh history.
2018 Patriot League Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Barry Sharifi, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
The junior midfielder scored five goals and dished seven assists for 17 points, in his 18 games at Loyola Maryland last season. Sharifi was named the 2017 Patriot League Midfielder of the Year for both the preseason and postseason, while also being named to the first-team in the postseason.
2018 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Zac McGraw, Army West Point, Jr., D
McGraw started in 16 games last season and helped the Black Knights’ defense lead the League in fewest goals allowed with 14. The junior earned 2017 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year accolades and was recently named to the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Loyola Maryland Picked First in 2018 Patriot League Preseason Poll
With 18 first-place votes, Loyola Maryland was picked to finish first in the League in the 2018 preseason poll, with 162 points. The Boston University Terriers tallied the two first-place votes and stand second in the poll with 129 points. Colgate and Lehigh both earned 124 points each to tie for third, Army West Point follows with 89 points, while Bucknell took the sixth spot with 88 points. Holy Cross received 71 points for the seventh place, followed by American (55), Navy (30) and Lafayette (28).
Voting for the preseason major awards, poll, and the all-League team was conducted by the Patriot League men’s soccer head coaches and men’s soccer sports information directors, who could not vote for their own players.
Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Patriot League Team*^
Keenan O’Shea, Army West Point, Jr., F
Matt Thorsheim, Bucknell, So., F
Mark Forrest, Lehigh, Sr., F
Josh Fawole, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
Brian Saramago, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
Toni Knutsson, Boston U., So., M
Gabriel Carlsson, Loyola Maryland, Sr., M
Barry Sharifi, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
Zac McGraw, Army West Point, Jr., D
Aram Ouligian, Colgate, Sr., D
Mickey Watson, Loyola Maryland, Sr., D
Chase Vosvick, Loyola Maryland, So., GK
Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Mark Forrest, Lehigh, Sr., F
Patriot League Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Barry Sharifi, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Zac McGraw, Army West Point, Jr., D
Patriot League Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
Loyola Maryland – 162 (18 first-place votes)
Boston U. – 129 (2 first-place votes)
Colgate – 124
Lehigh – 124
Army West Point – 89
Bucknell – 88
Holy Cross – 71
American – 55
Navy – 30
Lafayette – 28
*Student-athletes are listed by position; alphabetically by institution
^ Due to a tie, there are two non-position specific players on the team
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.