Sport: Men’s Soccer

Hometown: Wallingford, PA

Major: Economics

Why Mike? He was selected as the Brine Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week.

1. Last week you were named the BRINE Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week. What does that type of individual accolade mean to you?

It’s really a testament to our overall team defending. Guys have been on the same page, and really battled in the middle of the field to make our job in the back a lot easier. Grant Reed has been very solid in goal, and Patrick Letourneau has done a great job getting the team organized and cleaning up everything in the back.

2. The team’s performance at the Vermont Tournament was nothing short of spectacular, secur­ing the championship for the Raiders. What does such a positive result mean for the squad as you move forward with the season?

Being able to get two road wins against two quality opponents was a positive step for us. We have a lot of road games this year and knowing we can pick up results on the road is a huge boost to our confidence as we move forward.

3. As a defender you haven’t always been known for your goal scoring, but the beginning of this year has seen you find the back of the net twice. What’s changed in your game to make this possible?

I’ve just been in the right place at the right time. I’m up there in the box on set pieces because of my size and guys have done a great job putting the ball into the right areas where we can get a head on it. Good things usually happen when you put shots on frame, so thats all I’ve been trying to do.

4. Steven Miller won the BRINE Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week award this week. What does he mean to the team?

Steve has been our engine in the middle of the field so far this year, and has been a real leader. He is tireless and battles the whole game. He has overcome a lot of adversity over the last two years and I’m really glad his hard work is paying off early in the season. He deserves it.

5. The Colgate Classic is this weekend, allowing the Raiders a chance to host their own tourna­ment. How much is the team looking forward to this, and what do you need to focus on to obtain a positive result?

We are always very excited to play at home in front of our fans. I think our offense is going to start clicking this weekend, and if we continue to focus on tough defending and playing our brand of soccer, we will have a great chance to continue earning positive results before heading into Patriot League play.