Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Army
Bucknell Men's Soccer's Unbeaten Streak Reaches Eight with 2-0 Shutout of Army
9/23/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 23, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Second-half goals just over five minutes apart from Alex Russo (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) and Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) helped the Bucknell men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory against Patriot League foe Army Saturday night at Varsity Soccer Field. The Bison extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches, the third-longest in the 77-year history of the program.
After a first half that lacked many scoring opportunities other than an Army (1-6-1, 0-2-0 PL) goal by Chase Spruill that was called off in the final minute due to offsides, Bucknell (7-1-2, 2-0-0 PL) got on the board early in the second half. The first goal came at 52:35. From the other side of midfield, O'Brien kicked the ball ahead to an empty side of the field. Army goalie A.J. Glubzinski, making his third start of the year, came out of the box to try and play the ball, but the ball skipped past him. Russo sprinted past Glubzinski and kicked the ball into the empty net for his team-high fifth goal of the season.
O'Brien picked up the first goal of his career just over five minutes later when Jason Soto (Hackettstown, N.J./Morris Catholic) threw the ball in from the left sideline to Nathan LaGrave (Okinawa, Japan/Kadena). LaGrave eluded a defender and passed the ball to O'Brien, who was positioned at the top of the box and quickly fired a strike into the upper-right corner of the net.
The Bison nearly made it 3-0 late in the second half, but had a goal of their own called back. Kevin Holmes fired one into the net after the ball pinballed around in front of the goal, but Bucknell was offsides, something that occurred six times in the contest.
Joey Kuterbach (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) made four saves in goal for the Bison to pick up his third consecutive shutout. He has not allowed a goal in a career-best 333:07.
For the seventh time in 10 games this season, Bucknell was outshot by its opponent. Army held a 14-8 shots advantage, while it also won the corner kick battle 6-3.
With five goals this season, Russo took over the team lead in that category, as well as points (12). LaGrave is second with four goals and 11 points. The 16 goals the Bison have scored this year equals their total in 18 matches in 2005.
Bucknell, which remains in a three-way tie for first place in the Patriot League with Colgate and Lehigh, continues its three-game homestand Wednesday night at Varsity Soccer Field with a match against Princeton. Kick off is slated for 7 p.m.
