CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Lehigh junior forward Josh Luchini and senior midfielder Stevo Bednarsky, and Navy junior defender Matt Nocita earned the Patriot League Men’s Soccer preseason major awards, when it was announced by the League office on Monday. Meanwhile, the Mountain Hawks finished atop the preseason poll with 161 points and 17 first-place votes.
Luchini was named the preseason offensive player of the year, while teammate Bednarsky earned preseason midfielder of the year. Nocita rounded out the preseason major awards as defensive player of the year.
Navy earned the second spot in the poll with 133 points and two first-place votes, while Loyola Maryland received one first-place vote and compiled 124 points. Colgate placed fourth with 122 points followed by Lafayette with 97 points to round out the top five. Bucknell tallied 76 points for sixth place, followed by Army West Point (75 points) and Boston University (51), American (42) and Holy Cross (22).
The Mountain Hawks and Greyhounds placed three student-athletes each on the preseason All-League team, including Luchini, Bednarsky and junior defender Nick Jennings from Lehigh, and senior midfielder Justin Ingram, graduate student defender Jonathan Sousa and senior goalkeeper Chase Vosvick from Loyola. Nocita was joined on the All-League squad by teammate junior forward Jacob Williams, Bucknell senior midfielder Matthew Thorsheim, and Colgate sophomore forward Drew Fischer and junior defender Will Stroud.
Eight of the 11 preseason all-league members were named to the 2019 Patriot League Men’s Soccer first-, second-, or third All-Patriot League teams, with five on the first team, two on the second team and one on the third team. Luchini, Williams, Thorsheim, Bednarsky, and Nocita were on the 2019 first team, while Ingram and Vosvick earned second-team honors, and Jennings garnered third-team recognition. Luchini was also the League’s offensive player of the year in 2019, while Nocita was the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.
The preseason poll and individual awards were voted on by the men’s soccer coaches and sports information directors from each institution, with restrictions on voting for their team and student-athletes.
Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Josh Luchini, Lehigh, Jr., F, Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny
* Luchini, the 2019 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-League member, comes into his junior year after leading the Patriot League in goals with 11 in 2019.
* The junior forward also led all Patriot League players in game-winning goals for the second-straight year with five.
* A four-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week winner last season, Luchini also received Third Team All-American honors.
Patriot League Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Stevo Bednarsky, Lehigh, Sr., M, Hackettstown, N.J./Gill Saint Bernard’s School
* The 2019 first team All-Patriot League selection tallied two goals with an assist as a junior.
* Bednarsky was one of four Lehigh players named to the 2019 Patriot League All-Tournament team as the team defeated Lafayette for the title.
* The senior was also a Second-Team All-Atlantic Region selection by the United Soccer Coaches in 2019.
Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Matt Nocita, Navy, Jr., D, Porter Ranch, Calif./Oaks Christian
* Nocita, the 2019 defensive player of the year, helped lead the team’s defense to 10 shutouts, which included the fourth-best shutout percentage (.588) and team goals-against average (.574) in the country.
* The 2019 first team All-Patriot League honoree scored three goals in 17 games played.
* The junior defender was recently named to the 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, becoming the first player for Navy selected since Jamie Dubyoski before the 2015 season.
2020-21 Patriot League Men’s Soccer Preseason All-League Team
Drew Fischer, Colgate, So., F
Josh Luchini, Lehigh, Jr., F
Jacob Williams, Navy, Jr., F
Matthew Thorsheim, Bucknell, Sr., M
Stevo Bednarsky, Lehigh, Sr., M
Justin Ingram, Loyola Maryland, Sr., M
Will Stroud, Colgate, Jr., D
Nick Jennings, Lehigh, Jr., D
Jonathan Sousa, Loyola Maryland, Gr., D
Matt Nocita, Navy, Jr., D
Chase Vosvick, Loyola Maryland, Sr., GK
*Student-athletes are listed by position; alphabetically by institution
2020-21 Patriot League Men’s Soccer Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Luchini, Lehigh, Jr., F
2020-21 Patriot League Men’s Soccer Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Stevo Bednarsky, Lehigh, Sr., M
2020-21 Patriot League Men’s Soccer Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Nocita, Navy, Jr., D
2020-21 Patriot League Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
Lehigh – 161 (17 first-place votes)
Navy – 133 (2)
Loyola – 124 (1)
Colgate – 122
Lafayette – 97
Bucknell – 76
Army West Point – 75
Boston University – 51
American – 42
Holy Cross – 22
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth 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.