Bucknell University Athletics
Pair of Bucknell Men's Soccer Players Honored by Patriot League
11/1/2004 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 1, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell freshman goalkeeper Joey Kuterbach was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week and senior defender Michael Lookingland earned league Defensive Player of the Week honors after their performances in a 1-0 shutout of Navy and a 2-0 loss to No. 12 Maryland last week.
Kuterbach, who was the reigning Defensive Player of the Week, recorded his second shutout in seven days on Saturday when the Bison upended the Mids. His first shutout came in a 1-0 victory over American on Oct. 24. The Kingwood, Texas, native stopped three shots in the game against Navy to give him 23 saves this year. He has a team-best 1.16 goals against average and stands first on the squad with a .793 save percentage.
Earlier in the week Bucknell faced 12th-ranked Maryland in College Park, Md. In just his third career start on the road, Kuterbach made two saves and allowed two goals while playing the first half against the Terps. Maryland had been averaging nearly three goals per game.
Lookingland was a major factor in Kuterbach recording his second shutout and the Bison allowing just two goals in a pair of games last week. Late in the second half against Navy, Lookingland helped preserve Kuterbach's shutout by heading the ball away from an empty goal. The Mids' Zach Plies lifted a shot over Kuterbach's head that nearly bounced into the goal. However, Lookingland, playing in his final league home game, snuck in behind Kuterbach to head the ball out of the box.
 Michael Lookingland was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week.  |
|
A starter in all 16 matches this season, Lookingland, a co-captain, has been Bucknell's defensive leader. The Fallston, Md., native has also been productive on the offensive end of the field, scoring one goal and tallying one assist this year.
The Bison (6-9-1, 4-2-0 Patriot League) stand third in the Patriot League standings with just one conference match to play. With a win against Holy Cross Saturday, and a Lafayette victory over first-place American, the three teams will be tied atop the standings with matching 5-2-0 records. Bucknell would win the tiebreaker and earn home field advantage for the Patriot League Tournament based on defeating both the Leopards and Eagles this season. However, if the Bison lose to the Crusaders Saturday, and Colgate and Lehigh both win, Bucknell will slide to fifth place and miss the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2002. A loss or a tie by either Lehigh or Colgate in their games against Navy and Army on Friday and Saturday will clinch a postseason berth for the Bison.
Prior to Saturday's match with Holy Cross, Bucknell closes out its home schedule by hosting Philadelphia University Tuesday, Nov. 2, at West Fields. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m.
