Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
La Salle
Bucknell Men's Soccer Extends Unbeaten Streak to Five with 2-1 Win Over La Salle
10/2/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 2, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Mark Schmiegel (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) and Justin Wolf (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) netted goals to lead the Bucknell men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over La Salle Tuesday evening at Varsity Soccer Field. The Bison extended their winning streak to three games and have now gone five consecutive matches without a loss.
Bucknell needed to come from behind to extend its winning streak to three games for the first time since late last September as the Explorers scored just 5:07 into the game. Jimmy Guntle made a great crossing pass from the right corner to the left side of the net to Brian Barry, who converted on the first goal of the game.
The Bison answered just over 20 minutes later when Schmiegel tallied his third goal of the season. He had a chance to line up a shot from the left corner of the 18-yard box and his line drive evened the score as it went past Andrew Bernhard, who was making his first start in goal this season for La Salle (2-5-1).
Wolf, who has now tallied four goals during the five-game unbeaten streak, put Bucknell (4-3-3) ahead in the 64th minute. Following a corner kick, Joe Mellott (Highland, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) collected a clearing pass and quickly shuttled the ball to Wolf. Wolf then hammered a line drive from the right side of the box into the top of the goal and over the outstretched arms of Bernhard.
Bucknell outshot La Salle by a 23-11 margin, although both teams took a number of long-distance shots in the contest, thus Bernhard made only five saves and Bison goalie Joey Kuterbach (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) recorded just one.
After no fouls were committed in the first 20 minutes of play, Bucknell finished with 15, compared to seven by the Explorers. Twelve of the Bison fouls came in the second half as did five of their seven corner kicks. La Salle attempted just two corners, both coming after halftime.
Just over a minute before Schmiegel's game-tying score, Corey Curnutte (Waterford, Mich./Detroit Country Day) nearly evened the score at 1-all. He fired a shot from the left side that bounced off the inside of the right post and appeared to be heading into the goal, but it somehow did not sneak past Bernhard.
With his fourth goal of the season coming Tuesday, Wolf continues to lead the Bison in that category. Schmiegel, who had three career goals coming into this season, ranks second on the team in goals with his three tallies. Wolf also paces the squad in points with 10, while Schmiegel is second with eight.
The Bison will conclude their two-game homestand Saturday, Oct. 6, when they host Holy Cross at 3 p.m. at Varsity Soccer Field. It is the first Patriot League home contest of the season for Bucknell. It will be Youth Soccer Appreciation Day at Varsity Soccer Field. Former Bison Michael Lookingland, a professional soccer player, is expected to make an appearance and sign autographs.
