Complete Patriot League Release

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Having already been named to the prestigious MAC Herman Trophy Watch List, senior Mark Forrest picked up another honor on Tuesday, being named the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, the Lehigh men's soccer team tied for third place in the preseason poll. A United Soccer Coaches All-American last season, Forrest was one of the nation's most prolific offensive players. As a team, Lehigh finished the 2017 campaign tied for third place, the same place it finds itself in the preseason poll.
 
Loyola came in first with 162 points (18 first-place votes), followed by Boston University (129 points, two first-place votes), Colgate and Lehigh (124 points), Army West Point (89 points), Bucknell (88 points), Holy Cross (71 points), American (55 points), Navy (30 points) and Lafayette (28 points). As a team, the Mountain Hawks will be vying for their second Patriot League Championship in four years.
 
Forrest finished last season second in the country in points (38) and third in goals (15). Those marks led the entire Northeast region while his eight assists were good for fourth in the Patriot League. Forrest was the 2017 Patriot League and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year and was named first team All-Region and third team All-America by the United Soccer Coaches. In his impressive campaign, Forrest had four multi-goal games, with at least one point in 11 contests. Forrest's impressive career has seen him record 33 goals and 16 assists for 82 points. The program's all-time leader for goals is Andrew Mittendorf '99 with 43.
 
Lehigh opens its season at UConn on Friday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. before turning home three days later to host Drexel on Monday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.
 
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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