Nov. 14, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.--Freshman Colin Baker (North Wales, Pa./La Salle College HS) was named the Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year Wednesday evening. Baker also headlined the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team in voting done by the conference's 14 men's soccer head coaches.

Baker has enjoyed an impressive rookie season for Saint Joseph's. The forward had an immediate impact on the Hawks, who recorded their most overall (five) and league victories (four) since 2003 and were in postseason contention through the final weekend of regular season. He led the team with eight goals for 16 points, which ranked in the top 10 in the league. The two-time A-10 Rookie of the Week posted three game-winning goals on the season and notched a hat trick in just his second collegiate contest.

Baker, who started in 17 of the team's 18 games for the Hawks, was the top forward for Saint Joseph's all season. In the second game of the year Baker scored a hat trick at Costal Carolina in a 3-2 victory over the Chanticleers.

Later in the season, Baker's header over Richmond late in the game secured SJU's third straight A-10 victory. After that, the freshman sensation notched his third game-winning goal of the season at Xavier with a strike in overtime for a 1-0 victory.

The freshman capped the year off with a penalty kick goal at Charlotte and free kick goals against Rhode Island in the season finale.

This is the first Rookie of the Year honor from the A-10 since Andrew Kulinski won the award in 2000.