Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Philadelphia
Bucknell Edges Philadelphia in Men's Soccer, 2-1
11/2/2004 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 2, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Ori Adrabi scored his fourth goal of the season with 9:32 remaining as the Bucknell men's soccer team outlasted Philadelphia for a 2-1 victory in a non-league game Tuesday afternoon at West Fields. The contest was the final home regular season match of the year for the Bison, who improved to 7-9-1. Philadelphia fell to 4-12-1.
Scott Visnic was credited with the assist on Adrabi's goal. The junior dribbled along the right endline and found a wide open Adrabi perched in front of the net for the game-winning score. Visnic increased his team-high total to six assists, a figure that ranks third in the Patriot League. He also claimed the top position in the conference with 18 points this season.
The Bison opened the scoring in the first half when Eric Brunton tallied the first goal of the game with just 3:04 remaining in the stanza. Jeremy Wong passed the ball to Justin Wolf who quickly redirected it to Brunton 15 yards ahead of him. Brunton controlled the ball before firing a shot from the top left corner of the box that sailed past Rams' goalkeeper Justin Hewins.
Philadelphia had a chance to tie the game early in the second half, but senior Michael Lookingland stopped Keith Manscuk's effort. Manscuk was streaking toward the doorstep of the goal, gearing up for a shot that would have eluded Bucknell goalie Joey Kuterbach, but Lookingland slid at Manscuk just feet from the goal and knocked the ball out of play.
The Rams did even the score minutes later when Devon Klipp netted his fourth goal of the season. He launched a shot from the top, left corner of the box that bounced off the right post before settling into the net at the 56:12 mark.
In the evenly played game, Bucknell outshot Philadelphia by an 11-8 margin, while both Kuterbach and Hewins made three saves. Kuterbach has allowed just three goals in the last four games, three of those being wins.
The Rams were called for 10 offside penalties in the contest.
The Bison, who are 4-2-0 in the Patriot League, stand in a second-place tie in the conference standings with just one league 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.
Bucknell's contest against Holy Cross Saturday, Nov. 6, will kick off at 1 p.m. in Worcester, Mass. It is the final regular season match for the Bison. The Patriot League Tournament will take place at the home field of the highest seed Friday, Nov. 12, and Saturday, Nov. 14.
