FINISHING KICK: Ben Davis kicks the ball in action for the Lehigh University men’s soccer team. Davis, a former Princeton High standout, is heading into his final campaign for the Mountain Hawks. Defender Davis and Lehigh start the 2015 campaign on August 28 when the Mountain Hawks host Fairleigh Dickinson. (Photo Courtesy of Lehigh Sports Communications)

Despite emerging as an All-State defender for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team, Ben Davis was not heavily recruited by college programs.

“I didn’t put that much emphasis on playing soccer when I was looking at schools,” said Davis, a 2012 PHS grad who helped PHS win a state title in 2009 and county crowns in 2009 and 2011.

“My final decision came down to Lehigh University and William and Mary. I got into Lehigh on my academics and I called the coach (Dean Koski) and asked them to look at me in club games to see if I could have a spot.”

Koski honored that request and liked what he saw, adding Davis to the Lehigh roster for the 2012 season. The 5’10 Davis made an immediate impact for the Mountain Hawks, appearing in all 14 games as a freshman with 13 starts and a goal. As a sophomore, he made 10 starts. Last year, Davis was hampered with injury, getting into five games.

This Friday, Davis begins his senior season as Lehigh hosts Fairleigh Dickinson in its 2015 season opener.

In reflecting on his introduction to Division I soccer in the fall of 2012, Davis acknowledged that he faced some major challenges.

“It was pretty hard, it was a lot different from PHS,” recalled Davis. “Any jump to college is a big jump; it is the speed of play and you are going against much bigger players.”

Davis made his debut in the team’s fourth game that year. “My first game was against Drexel, I hadn’t played at all before that,” said Davis.

“The coach put me in near the end of the first half at forward, it was very intimidating. It was the fastest-paced 10 minutes I had ever played. I just went out there to do the job the coach asked me to do. You have to be much quicker on the ball. Drexel had a good team.”

Lehigh didn’t have a good season that fall and took its lumps as it went 4-12-1.

“We played a lot of good teams that year,” noted Davis. “We played Maryland, they were top ranked at the time. We played them to 1-1 through 90 minutes and lost in OT. Some of the people I played against that year are in the MLS. There is a high caliber of player. It is intimidating for a young player.”

Ending the season with a bang, Davis notched his lone college goal in a 2-2 tie with Army in the season finale.

“My goal was a PHS-like play, it was a free kick and I got a head on it,” said Davis.

“I saw the film afterward and I was running up the field like an idiot after the goal.”

Going through the ups and downs that fall showed Davis that he could hold his own at the college level.

“The biggest thing was learning that I could play with such huge guys,” said Davis.

“I played the majority of games at center back and the coaches wanted me to communicate and talk as much as I can on the field. It is important for the whole defense.”

Things have gone well off the field at Lehigh for Davis. “It was a really good fit,” asserted Davis.

“Being on the soccer team, I came to Lehigh in August and it was good to have a group of friends before school started because the first few months can be intimidating. The soccer team is good about structuring things academically and helping you if you need tutors. I am studying behavioral neuroscience with a lot of biology classes. I hope to go to medical school.”

During his sophomore campaign, Davis found a good fit on the wing of the Lehigh defense.

“I switched from center back to right back,” said Davis, reflecting on the season which saw the Mountain Hawks go 2-14-1. “A lot of it is learning what your job is and learning not to do too much. A lot of freshmen want to do too much.”

In 2014, Lehigh did much better, improving to 10-8-1, but Davis didn’t get to do as much individually because he was hampered by injury.

“Last year was a great year for the team, we made a huge jump in the RPI,” said Davis. “I got hurt on the first day of preseason. I came back early in the season and then got hurt again. It is my hip, I had an injury in my labrum.”

Davis did jump back into action in November, seeing action in the team’s 4-0 loss to Bucknell in postseason play.

“I started to come back late in the season, the coach put me in the second half of the final game, which was a Patriot League tournament game,” said Davis. “He showed a lot of confidence in me.”

Focusing on rehabbing his injury, Davis gained confidence as he went through spring ball.

“I did a lot of physical therapy,” added Davis. “The sports training staff at Lehigh has been great; they have helped me a lot. I was able to get on the field a lot this spring. In the winter I had done a lot of strengthening the muscle in the area of the injury. It was good to get back in the swing of things. I had a good spring.”

This summer, Davis has kept in the swing of things, training at home and at Lehigh.

“This summer I am between Princeton and school, taking classes,” said Davis.

“I played some Match Fit club games and I played with some guys who are staying at school. I am really getting after it in terms of fitness.”

Heading into the season, Davis believes the Mountain Hawks should keep getting better.

“We are really really excited, we didn’t lose too many pieces from the starting lineup last year,” said Davis.

“We lost our goalie but we have a sophomore who we think can step in. We have most of our starting defense and goal scorers back. We want to make a deep run in the Patriot League tournament and go for a championship.”

Davis is hoping to be a key piece of the puzzle along the back line for Lehigh in his final college campaign.

“I want to solidify myself in the starting lineup,” said Davis. “It is tough when you are coming off an injury. I also want to show leadership as a senior.”