Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bison Men's Soccer Ends Regular-Season with 0-0 Tie Against Holy Cross
11/8/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 8, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - A large crowd stayed through 110 minutes of play on a frigid 40 degree day to watch the first-place Bucknell men's soccer team close out the regular-season with a game against Patriot League rival Holy Cross on Saturday, November 8. Although the Bison did not come away with the win, the team did complete the first undefeated Patriot League ledger in school history, playing to a 0-0 draw with the Crusaders to end conference play with a 5-0-2 record.
Holy Cross, still playing for a spot in the post-season tournament, came out with a sense of urgency from the start. The Crusaders got off two good shots in the game's first 10 minutes, but senior Kevin Clifford, making his first start of the year on senior day, came up with the saves.
The Bison countered with two solid scoring opportunities of their own, but HC's Richard Whipple made saves on both shots. The contest would proceed that way for the remainder of the half as the squad's entered the intermission in a 0-0 deadlock. It is the first time in the last five games that Bucknell was held off the scoreboard in the opening stanza.
The Crusaders opened the second half with the same intensity as the first, taking three shots in the first six minutes, but could not find the back of the net.
Bucknell picked up the intensity with just around five minutes to play in regulation, keeping the ball in the Holy Cross half of the field for most of the final minutes. The Orange and Blue fired off six shots in the final six minutes, but the Crusaders defense did an outstanding job to keep the league's highest-scoring offense off the board. In addition to four saves by Whipple during that time, Holy Cross was helped by a team save on the goal line which would have been the game-winner.
Despite the offensive flurry, the Bison could not convert and time expired with the score still 0-0. The first overtime session went back and forth with both teams recording three shots, including sophomore Scott Visnic's blast 14 seconds into the extra period that sailed just left of the goal. Bucknell had two more opportunities in the second overtime, but both were off the mark.
Whipple ended the contest with nine saves, while Clifford (two saves) and sophomore Adam Edwards (two saves) combined for the ninth Bison shutout of the year.
Bucknell outshot the Crusaders, 22-18, and held an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.
The Bison are 11-6-2 overall and 5-0-2 in Patriot League play. BU, which finished first in the Patriot League regular-season standings, will host the conference tournament on Friday and Sunday, November 14 and 16. The Orange and Blue play #4 Lehigh at 1:30 p.m. on Friday for a chance to advance to the championship game on Sunday.
Holy Cross is 2-9-5 overall and 2-1-4 in conference play. The Crusaders, the third seed in the tournament, will face #2 Lafayette in the first game of the day, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
