Philadelphia, PA . - La Salle University head men's soccer coach Pat Farrell has slated seven new comers for the 2004 season. After a 2003 season that saw post-season recognition to three athletes and just one senior, Farrell is confident and excited about the future of his program.
The 2004 season will feature not only the seven new Explorers but also a trip to the Virginia Commonwealth University Tournament and non-conference play versus Philadelphia Soccer Seven Opponents including the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova, Drexel, and Philadelphia University. The Explorers will travel to Annapolis and face the Navy Midshipmen and will also host Bucknell in non-conference action.
Andrew Perez is a forward/midfielder out of Brick, NJ. He is currently a senior at Brick Memorial High School where he has been a member of the varsity soccer team for all four years of his high school career. A team captain his junior and senior years, Perez recorded 81 consecutive starts. Throughout his four year career he scored 50 goals and has received several post-season honors.
Perez, the 2003 Ocean County Player of the Year, was named to the all-division first team and the all-Ocean County first team both his junior and senior years. He earned first team all-shore honors as a senior and second team honors as a junior. Perez was a member of the 2003 New Jersey all-state first team and Senior Showcase. He was named to the NSCAA/Adidas all-region team and received MVP and the Coaches Award from Brick Memorial.
A four-year starter for Highland Regional High School, Geoff Schaeffer, has earned all-Conference first team honors all four years at Highland Regional. Chosen as a team captain his sophomore, junior and senior years, Schaeffer was selected second team all-South Jersey by the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association and the New Jersey Soccer Coaches Association as a defender his junior year and as a midfielder his senior year.
As a senior, Schaeffer led his team to its first state playoff appearance and first playoff victory since 1989. He led the team in scoring and points, recording 20 goals and 12 assists. Schaeffer was selected to play in the Tri-County, South Jersey, and New Jersey State all-star games as a senior. A stand-out on the soccer field, Schaeffer is also an excellent student as was named the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year also during his senior season.
Michael Lehr will also be joining the 2004 squad. Lehr earned four varsity letters from Carlisle High School in Carlisle, PA. He was named a team captain his senior season and led his team in scoring with 10 goals and five assists.
Lehr earned second team all-conference honors in 2003 and was named to the district 3 All-Star team. His club team, PSC Coppa, finished second at the Jefferson Cup in 2003. Lehr also played lacrosse while at Carlisle.
Ryan Dougherty was named one of the top five players in Delaware after his senior season at Salesianum High School. A three year starter, Dougherty earned four varsity letters from Salesianum.
As a sophomore Dougherty was named to the all-conference second team. As a junior he scored the winning goal in overtime in the state championship game. As a result for his junior year success he earned third team all-state honors and was named to the all-conference first team. He captained his senior squad and garnered first team all-state accolades and was also named a Regional All-American.
The 2004 Explorers will invite a goalie in Kyle Perdelwitz. Perdelwitz started three years at West Orange High School and left several high school records including career shutouts (34), single season shutouts (14), career GAA (.67), and single season GAA (.42). Perdelwitz garnered several post-season awards and accolades following his senior season. He was named to several first teams including all-state, all-conference, all-county, and all-area to say a few.
This four year letter winner captained the team as a senior. After his junior season, Perdelwitz earned third team all-state north honors as well as second team all-county (Star Ledger) and first team all-county (coaches) honors. He was named to the all-conference second team and to the first team all-area. He started since his sophomore season and was named to the Star Ledger All-Sophomore team.
Jeremy Ortiz started since his freshman season at Lenape High School in Mount Laurel, NJ. Ortiz earned three varsity letters, having to sit out his junior season due to injury. As a sophomore he was named to the all-conference second team. Ortiz earned all New Jersey state honors as a senior.
He was also named to the all-South Jersey second team, the all-Courier Post first team, the all-Burlington County Times first team, the all-Philadelphia Inquirer first team, and the all Olympic American conference first team after his senior year. Ortiz led the 2003 squad in goals (18) and assists (9). He was named the team MVP in 2003. He has also had a successful career in club ball playing for the Medford Speed.
The final of seven in-coming freshmen to the La Salle University men's soccer team is Walter McMahon. McMahon was a four year varsity letter winner at Methacton High School in Norristown, PA. As a senior he was chosen as one of the co-captains of the squad.
In 2003, McMahon was named the Methacton varsity offensive player of the year. He also earned The Times Herald all area boys soccer second team honors. He was named to the Suburban I all-league first team as a senior and to the second team as a junior. A star on the playing field, he is also successful in the classroom as he was named to the Distinguished Honor Roll.
