Jan. 28, 2010

EASTON, Pa. - Fifteen men's soccer players were named to the Patriot League Men's Soccer Academic Honor Roll, announced Thursday afternoon. The 15 student-athletes were the most in team history and tied for second-most in the league.

All four seniors earned a spot on the list, in addition to three juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen. Senior Civil Engineering major Matt Reichenbach led the way with a 4.0 grade-point average (GPA), the fifth-straight semester in which he has earned a 4.0 and one of only seven Patriot League players to boast a 4.0 GPA or higher in the fall.

Classmates Chip Aronica (Economics and Business, 3.27), Nick Leigh (Biology, 3.82) and Philip Nelson (Mechanical Engineering, 3.67) were also honor roll members.

Athletically, Aronica started 18 of the 19 games in which he played as a midfielder and helped anchor a defensive unit that recorded 11 shutouts. Off the field, he spent the previous summer completing an internship at Oppenheimer & Co. in New York City working with financial advisors.

Leigh was named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 First Team in October. He has served as a Peer Mentor and been conducting research with Lafayette professor Jennifer Rutherford for the past year. On the field, the defender started 18 of the 19 games he played this past fall and chipped in one goal and one assist while helping the Leopards pick up 11 shutouts.

Nelson, the 2009 Patriot League Goalie of the Year, led the league in shutouts per game (0.64) and leaves the soccer program in the top 10 of several categories, including his career 0.65 goals-against average, which is the best average in program history.

The junior honor roll members include Sam Feldbaum (Economics & Business, 3.25), Jake Johnson (English, 3.46), Justin Kamine (Economics & Business/Policy Studies, 3.52) and Stephen Macurdy (Economics & Business, 3.40). Feldbaum played in nine games and added one goal while Macurdy was sidelined for the season with a knee injury. Kamine, meanwhile, started 18 games with one goal and Johnson started three of the 10 games in which he played.

The sophomore class, all Economics & Business majors, consisted of Luke Calvano (3.82), Graham Heydt (3.92), Wayne Maminski (3.67) and Shane Pruitt (3.35) also received honor roll status. Calvano started 17 of the 19 games in which he saw playing time while Heydt saw time in goal in two games. Maminski made 15 starts in 18 games and Pruitt saw time in the final 10 games of the season.

Finally, the freshmen members of the honor roll include Blake Fink (Government & Law, 3.77), Kyle Scharfenberg (Economics & Business, 3.25) and Zach Winthrop (Biology, 3.67). Fink led all rookies on the team with six points (two goals, two assists), Scharfenberg made seven starts and appeared in 12 games and Winthrop took the field for one game.

As a team, the Leopards boasted a 3.33 GPA, the seventh best mark among Lafayette's 23 varsity sports. The team also received the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for its 3.21 GPA during the 2008-09 academic year.

Lafayette, under the direction of head coach Dennis Bohn, finished its 2009 campaign with an overall record of 10-7-2, marking the sixth time in the last seven years the squad has recorded at least 10 wins. The Leopards made their league-record eighth-straight Patriot League Tournament appearance, as well as its 17th overall, also a league record.

To be eligible for the Academic Honor Roll, a student-athlete must earn a 3.20 GPA in the fall semester.

Name           Yr.   Major                                   GPAChip Aronica      Sr.   Economics & Business                    3.27Luke Calvano     So.   Economics & Business                    3.82Sam Feldbaum      Jr.   Economics & Business                    3.25Blake Fink     Fr.   Government & Law                    3.77Graham Heydt     So.   Economics & Business                    3.92Jake Johnson     So.   English                                 3.46Justin Kamine    Jr.   Economics & Business/Policy Studies 3.52Nick Leigh      Sr.   Biology                                 3.82Stephen Macurdy    Jr.   Economics & Business/Policy Studies 3.40Wayne Maminski     So.   Economics & Business                    3.67Philip Nelson    Sr.   Mechanical Engineering                  3.67Shane Pruitt     So.   Economics & Business                    3.35Matt Reichenbach  Sr.   Civil Engineering                   4.0Kyle Scharfenberg Fr. Economics & Business                    3.25Zach Winthrop   Fr.   Biology                                 3.67