Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Saint Francis (Pa.)
Bucknell Men's Soccer Shuts Out Saint Francis (Pa.), 2-0
10/24/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 24, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) and Corey Curnutte (Waterford, Mich./Detroit Country Day) each netted his fourth goal of the season and Joey Kuterbach (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) recorded his sixth shutout of the year as the Bucknell men's soccer team posted a 2-0 win over Saint Francis (Pa.) Wednesday evening at a soggy Varsity Soccer Field. The Bison, who have lost just once in their last nine games, improved to 6-4-4, while the Red Flash fell to 6-7-2.
O'Brien put Bucknell up 1-0 with a diving header at the 16:09 mark. Matt Hittson (Radnor, Pa./Radnor) put the ball into play off a free kick and found O'Brien wide open on the right side of the goal. It marked O'Brien's second consecutive game with a goal and was Hittson's first assist of the season.
That goal was all the scoring the Bison would need, but Curnutte tallied an insurance score on a penalty kick with just under five minutes to play. Justin Wolf (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) drew a foul inside the box on the Red Flash, leading to the penalty kick. Curnutte, who converted a penalty kick two games ago at Army, notched another one as he easily found the back of the net giving Bucknell the late 2-0 lead.
With their goals Wednesday, O'Brien and Curnutte equaled Wolf for the team lead. It is the first time three Bison have had at least four goals in a season since Scott Visnic, Jonathan Hemmert and Ori Adrabi accomplished the feat in 2004.
On the defensive side of the field, Kuterbach picked up his sixth shutout of the season. He was called on to make just four relatively easy saves as Saint Francis (Pa.) attempted 13 shots. The shutout was the 16th career blanking for Kuterbach, moving him into sole possession of fourth place on the Bucknell all-time list.
Bucknell tallied nine shot attempts and four corner kicks, compared to just one for the Red Flash, as it played a number of different lineups. Five of the nine shots for the Bison were on goal as Saint Francis goalie Brad Williams made three saves.
The Bison, who extended their home unbeaten streak to five games, will return to Patriot League play on Saturday, Oct. 27, when they host Lafayette at 7 p.m. Prior to the game, Damon's Grill will hold a tailgate near the entrance to Varsity Soccer Field. A number of meal options will be available, with prices ranging from $7-$9.
