Three members of the Hobart College soccer team were honored by the Liberty League office today. Junior
Kevin McCarthy, sophomore
Charlie Hale, and first-year
Will Abbott were named the league’s Offensive Performer, Defensive Performer, and Rookie of the Week, respectively, after lead the Statesmen to their first Liberty League Championship over the weekend.
McCarthy netted both of Hobart’s game-winning goals in the Liberty League Tournament. He tallied the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Hamilton in the conference semifinal on Tuesday, and notched the championship-clinching goal in the second overtime period against Union on Saturday to secure the Statesmen’s first Liberty League title. He also assisted on Hobart’s first goal in the 2-1 win over the Dutchmen. McCarthy was tabbed the tournament’s MVP.
Hale collected six saves and notched one shutout in tournament play last week. He stopped two shots in Hobart’s win over the Continentals, including a clutch diving stop in the final minute to save the game from going into overtime. He went on to record four saves in the Statesmen’s victory over the Dutchmen. Hale shares the conference lead with nine shutouts, and ranks fourth in the conference with a 0.85 goals against average.
Abbott started both tournament matches for the Statesmen. In the semifinal game vs. Hamilton, he cleared a Continental shot off the goal line in the final minute of regulation, preventing Hamilton from tying the game and forcing overtime.
Hobart (14-3-2) will travel to Swarthmore, Pa., for the first round of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. The Statesmen will take on St. Joseph’s of Long Island (13-8-0) at 5 p.m. on Nov. 14, followed by the 10th-ranked Garnet (14-2-2) squaring off against Merchant Marine Academy (16-4-2) at 7:30 p.m. The winners will meet on Sunday at 6 p.m. All three matches will have live streaming video and live stats, available at www.swarthmore.edu/athletics.