November 10, 2000

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Three Colgate University men's soccer players were named to the All-Patriot League team with the first team selection of senior forward Brendan Skonieczki (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal HS), and sophomore second team honorees in midfielder Michael Henes (Evanston, Ill./Evanston HS) and defender Marc Hubbard (Durham, N.H./Oyster River HS).

Colgate, which finished with a 7-10-1 overall record, was led by Skonieczki in scoring this season finishing with 12 goals and seven assists for 31 points starting in all 18 games.  Henes closed out the season with a goal and three assists for five points in 17 games, while Hubbard posted a goal and two helpers in 18 starts.  

Bruno, who ranks ninth in the NCAA in goals per game with a 2.22 per game average, was a unanimous selection for the 2000 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honor. Named League Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 18, the sophomore forward becomes the fourth Lehigh student-athlete to earn the honor (Andy Udell ’91; Andrew Mittendorf ’97, ’98).
 
In Patriot League action, Bruno tallied a League-high four goals (tied with Holy Cross’ Matt Ney), one of which was a game-winner. Overall, Bruno found the back of the net 17 times coupled with six assists for a League-leading 40 points in 18 games.

Bruno’s fellow Mountain Hawk frontrunner, Cusick, was selected by the PL coaches as the Rookie of the Year. The freshman forward finished third overall in the League with 1.72 goals per game. In 18 games, he scored a League third-best 13 goals and added five assists for 31 points. During League play, Cusick tallied two goals with one assist for five points.

Cusick, who becomes the second-straight Lehigh player to win the Rookie of the Year honor, joins sophomore teammate Ryan Grzeszczak (1999) and former player Kevin Jackson (1996) as the only other Lehigh student-athletes to earn Rookie of the Year accolades.

Epley, who was selected League Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 2, anchored the Bucknell back line and helped the squad post a 4-2-0 Patriot League record. The Bucknell defense allowed only six goals in League play - the best by any League team. During the season, Epley was rewarded for his play earning All-Tournament honors in the South Carolina 2000 Gamecock Soccer Classic and the Smith Barney Classic hosted by Vermont. The Franklinville, N.J. native notched two goals this season, both of which were game-winners. One of his scores game against then-#8 ranked South Carolina giving the Bison its first men’s soccer victory over a #10 ranked program in school history.

Nash, who becomes the second Bucknell men’s mentor to earn the Coach of the Year honor (Craig Reynolds ’93), gives the Bison a sweep on soccer Coach of the Year awards - Bucknell’s women’s coach Chrissy Findlay also was selected Coach of the Year. Nash, in only his second season as a Patriot League head coach, garners the award for the first time.