Athlete of the Week: Nick Lenicheck

By the middle of October, Nick Lenicheck had seen enough.

The Harvard men's soccer team had been outscored 14-4 in the first three weeks of the month while registering a 0-5-1 record.

Someone--anyone--needed to start scoring consistently.

Lenicheck stepped up.

In the final five games of the season, the Crimson went 4-1behind the sophomore midfielder's four goals and three assists. Of his four tallies, three were game-winners.

Against Fairfield on Oct. 26, Lenicheck hit the game-winner in the 29th minute and assisted on another in the 74th minute.

In the Crimson's Nov. 2 match against Maine, Lenicheck struck Harvard's first goal in the 22nd minute and assisted on two other goals to give the team its third straight win--its longest streak of the season. His four points against the Black Bears were the most by a Harvard player in a game this fall. His two assists gave him six for the season, making him the Crimson's assist leader for the second season in a row.

This Saturday, Lenicheck scored two goals in a 4-3 win against Penn on Senior Day at Ohiri, including the game winner on a dramatic header in the 80th minute.

Although he had played most of the match and looked tired as his minutes increased, Lenicheck made an aggressive run to the far post and connected with Wells Mangrum's centering pass.

Leaping in the air, Lenicheck struck the ball while moving towards the end line and found the back of the net from a very tough angle.

Lenicheck's two goal performance earned him Ivy League Co-Player of the Week and made him the Crimson's second leading scorer on the season with four goals and six assists.

For saving the Crimson from mid-season scoring doldrums and delivering a win to the seniors in their last game in Harvard uniforms, the Crimson honors sophomore Nick Lenicheck as its Athlete of the Week.