Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Men's Soccer Defeats Lafayette, 1-0, in Intense Patriot League Game
10/11/2003 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 11, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Junior co-captain Michael Lookingland II converted on a penalty kick in the 55th minute of the game, and that would be all the Bison would need as the men's soccer team held on for a 1-0 victory over visiting Patriot League rival Lafayette on Saturday, October 11. It was Bucknell's first win over the Leopards since the 1993 season.
In what was an intense game from the start, the Orange and Blue seemed to have the edge in the first half. The Bison led 8-2 in shots in the frame, but could not put the ball in the Lafayette net. Leopards' keeper Jay Freedman made five saves in the half to maintain the scoreless game.
The second half started much the same as the first, with Bucknell dominating play and controlling the ball in the Lafayette half of the field. BU was awarded its first corner kick of the game in the 53rd minute, and less than two minutes later, Lafayette committed a foul in the box to allow the Bison a penalty kick opportunity.
Lookingland stepped up for the free shot, getting Freedman to dive to his right while he buried the ball straight-on with 54:40 gone in the game.
Just five minutes after the host team took the 1-0 lead, Lafayette lost its leading scorer, Jamie Mullarkey, to a red card with more than 30 minutes left in the contest. Forced to play a man-down, the Leopards found themselves in a game of keep-away by the Bison.
Despite playing down a man, Lafayette managed to shift the momentum in its favor with nearly 15 minutes left to play. The Leopards had five good scoring opportunities in the final 15 minutes, but Bison keeper Adam Edwards came up with saves on two of them, and the other three sailed wide of the goal.
Edwards ended the game with four saves while posting his sixth shutout of the year. The sophomore now has 16 in his career, moving him into a tie for eighth place on the Patriot League career saves list. Freedman was impressive in goal for Lafayette, stopping eight of Bucknell's 13 shots.
Bucknell improves to 7-5-0 and 3-0-0 in the Patriot League. It is BU's first 3-0 start in league play since opening the conference with the same record in the 2000 season. Lafayette falls to 6-4-2 overall and 1-1-1 in the league.
The Bison take the road again for a 3:00 p.m. game at Philadelphia University on Tuesday, October 14.
