Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Men's Soccer Moves into First-Place Tie in Patriot League with 1-0 Win Over Lehigh
10/22/2005 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 22, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Scott Visnic (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) scored his first goal of the season and Adam Edwards (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown) recorded the Patriot League record-tying 26th shutout of his career as the Bucknell men's soccer team defeated Lehigh 1-0 Saturday night in a driving rain at Varsity Soccer Field.
The victory vaulted the Bison into a four-way tie atop the Patriot League standings with American, Colgate and Lehigh (8-3-1, 3-2-0 PL). All four teams have matching 3-2-0 league marks.
The Mountain Hawks dominated the offensive side of the field by launching 17 shots compared to just two for Bucknell (7-5-3, 3-2-0 PL). Fortunately for the Bison, Visnic was able to find the back of the net on one of those. His goal, the first of the season for the senior that moved into ninth place on Bucknell's career points list with 55, came in the 22nd minute. Justin Wolf (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) lofted a pass up the field in front of Visnic. Lehigh goalkeeper Charlie Sales raced toward the ball and slid as he and Visnic both approached the ball. Visnic beat him to it and escaped his slide before kicking the ball into the empty net that Sales vacated for his 22nd career goal.
Bucknell's only other shot of the game was off the foot of Kevin Holmes (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) nine minutes into the second half, but it sailed wide of the goal.
Lehigh forced Edwards to work for his eighth shutout of the season. He made eight saves, his second-highest total of the year in the winning effort as he boosted his season total to 64. By tallying his 26th career shutout, Edwards tied Lehigh's Ryan Grzeszczak for the Patriot League career record. Grzeszczak manned the Mouontain Hawks' net from 1999-2002.
After holding a 6-1 shot edge in the first half, Lehigh outshot Bucknell 11-1 in the second half. The Mountain Hawks did nearly tie the game on a number of occasions, including once hitting the crossbar and another time when the Bison almost tallied an own goal. Patrick Starsinic took a cross from Adam Williamson with just under two minutes to play in the first half and his shot glanced off the crossbar. The near-own goal came with just over seven minutes to play in the second half. After a free kick by Lehigh was pushed aside by Edwards, the ball bounced in the air and defender Andrew Loia (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) attempted to head the ball out. Instead, he headed the ball toward the goal, which Edwards had vacated. Loia quickly recovered and kicked the ball out before it had a chance to bounce into the empty goal.
Bucknell is idle until next Saturday, Oct. 29, when it hosts fellow first-place team American at 1 p.m. at Varsity Soccer Field. That is the final home contest for the Bison, who could still win the Patriot League and earn the right to host the Patriot League Tournament, Nov. 11 and Nov. 13.
