Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Hosts NJIT Tuesday
10/9/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 9, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Coming off just its second loss in its last 11 games, the Bucknell men's soccer team will host NJIT Tuesday night in its final non-league home match of the season. The contest, which will kick off at 7 p.m. at Varsity Soccer Field, will be broadcast live on www.SportsJuice.com by Doug Birdsong. The broadcast will begin at 6:45 p.m. and can be accessed through www.BucknellBison.com.
Since seeing its eight-game unbeaten streak snapped by Princeton nearly two weeks ago the Bison have gone winless and posted a 0-2-1 mark. They will look to get back on track against the Highlanders, who have not beaten Bucknell in the teams' two all-time meetings. Last year the two squads played to a 1-1 tie, while in 2004 the Bison posted a 3-2 home victory.
Bucknell enters the contest with a 7-3-3 record and is tied for third in the Patriot League with Lafayette with a 2-1-1 conference mark. NJIT is 2-8-1 this year, including an 0-3-0 road mark.
After scoring 16 goals in their first 10 games to equal their total from all of last year, the Bison have mustered just one score in their last three matches. Alex Russo (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) and Nathan LaGrave (Okinawa, Japan/Kadena) lead Bucknell's offensive attack with 25 of the squad's 52 points. Russo, who is tied for the Patriot League lead with three game-winning goals, has racked up a team-high five goals and three assists for 13 points, while LaGrave has registered four goals and a team-high four assists for 12 points. All four of LaGrave's goals have come at home.
Much like last year when the Bison had one of the best defenses in the Patriot League, Bucknell has been strong in the back half of the field. Opponents have scored just nine goals this season and junior goalkeeper Joey Kuterbach (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) has not yielded more than one goal in any match.
Kuterbach has played every second in net this season and has a 0.66 goals-against average and has registered a career-high 52 saves. He is among the league leaders in nearly every goalkeeping statistical category and has four shutouts to his credit.
NJIT enters Tuesday's game with a 1-1-1 record since snapping a seven-match losing streak. The Highlanders are giving up more than two goals per game. Fernando Londono, Robert Herrera and Osvaldo Perez lead the offensive attack with two goals apiece. NJIT has netted just 10 goals this season.
Bucknell does not return home again until Oct. 28 following Tuesday's game. The Bison will embark on a four-match road trip starting with Saturday night's Patriot League contest at Lehigh.
