Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Top-Seeded Bison Men's Soccer Drops 2-0 Decision to Lehigh in Patriot League Semifinals
11/14/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 14, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's soccer team is hosting the Patriot League tournament for just the second time in the last 13 years, and the Bison have yet to advance past the semifinal round when playing with home field advantage. The top-seeded Orange and Blue dropped a 2-0 decision to fourth-seeded Lehigh on Friday, November 14, falling out of playoff contention in the process.
The contest between Bucknell and the Mountain Hawks pitted the league's best offense in the Bison against the conference's best defense in Lehigh, and this time the defensive effort won out. The first half of the game was played in thirds with LU dominating offensively for the first 15 minutes, BU taking over for the second 15, and the final 15 taking place mostly between the boxes.
Both teams got off five shots in the scoreless frame with three of Bucknell's on goal and two for Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks presented the first half's best scoring opportunity when Steve Fisher drew Bison keeper and First-Team All-Patriot League selection Adam Edwards out of the goal, but Edwards recovered in time to make a save on the ensuing shot by Kyle Hartman.
Just over six minutes into the second half, Lehigh took advantage of the first corner kick of the afternoon for either team. Hartman served a ball from the left side to the head of Fisher. Fisher's shot appeared to have been saved on the goal line by junior Jonathan Hemmert, but the linesman signaled it a goal for the 1-0 Mountain Hawks lead.
After Lehigh took the lead, the visitors retreated to a defensive game, putting all but one player between the ball and the goal. The Bison kept the ball in the Lehigh 50 for most of the remainder of the game, but could not put any of their five shots past LU goalkeeper Sam Bishop, a second-team all-league selection. Senior second-team all-leaguer Brian King nearly tied the contest with four minutes left, but his shot bounced off the crossbar.
Due to the Bucknell push on offense, and the crowd of Lehigh defenders, Fisher, the lone man back for the Mountain Hawks, had several breakaway opportunities when the ball was cleared out by the defense. Edwards made gutsy saves on four of Fisher's shots, but with just 11 seconds left in the game, the first-team all-league player finally snuck one past the keeper for the insurance goal.
Edwards ended the game with nine saves, while Bishop stopped six Bison shots. Lehigh outshot the Orange and Blue, 15-12.
Bucknell falls to 11-7-2 overall. Lehigh improves to 9-3-7 overall and will face #2 Lafayette in the Patriot League Championship game on Sunday, November 16, at 1:00 p.m. Lafayette was a 5-1 winner over Holy Cross in the first semifinal game of the tournament.
