Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Takes on Lafayette Saturday Night at Varsity Soccer Field
10/26/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 26, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After playing its first non-league game in more than three weeks Wednesday against Saint Francis (Pa.), the Bucknell men's soccer team returns to Patriot League play Saturday night against Lafayette. The Bison and Leopards will kick off under the lights of Varsity Soccer Field at 7 p.m.
The match is a key one for both teams as they vie for berths in the Patriot League Tournament. One year after facing each other in the Patriot League championship match, Bucknell sits in fourth place in the tightly packed league standings and Lafayette is in fifth. The top four teams qualify for the postseason tournament.
Prior to Saturday's contest there will be a tailgate, hosted by Damon's Grill, near the entrance to Varsity Soccer Field. The menu will include hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork and a half rack of ribs. Cost of the meals will range from $7-$9. The tailgate will begin 30 minutes prior to kickoff. The same event will be held prior to next Friday's nationally televised game against Lehigh. (MENU FOR DAMON'S GRILL TAILGATE)
Bucknell Men's Soccer Notebook
Bucknell Recently (6-4-4 Overall, 2-1-1 Patriot League)
- Oct. 24: 2007\ Bucknell\ Men\'s\ Soccer\ Statistics
Bucknell Notes
- Bucknell has lost just once in its last nine games, going 6-1-2 over that span.
- Bucknell enters Saturday night's Family Weekend match with a five-game home unbeaten streak. The Bison are 3-0-2 at home since losing their home opener 1-0 to Binghamton.
- Bucknell has been strong at home against Patriot League competition in recent years. In fact, the Bison have not lost to a Patriot League foe at home since 2005. Bucknell is 2-0-2 against Patriot League opponents over the last two seasons, and 7-2-2 since the beginning of the 2004 season.
- Since the beginning of the 2000 campaign, Bucknell has posted a 38-12-11 regular-season record in Lewisburg. The Bison have compiled a 3-1-2 home mark this year. Among the 38 wins and 11 ties have been 31 shutouts for the Bucknell defense.
- Both Bucknell and Lafayette are ranked in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings. The Bison stand seventh, while the Leopards are fourth.
- With a win Saturday night, Bucknell will tally its third conference victory, marking the sixth consecutive year it has registered at least three wins. Over the last six years, the Bison are 20-13-6 in Patriot League play.
- Sophomore Conor O'Brien and senior co-captain Corey Curnutte each netted his fourth goal of the season Wednesday against Saint Francis (Pa.) to equal senior co-captain Justin Wolf for the team lead. It is the first time since 2004 that at least three Bison have registered as many as four goals in a season. Scott Visnic (6), Jonathan Hemmert (5) and Ori Adrabi (5) were the last trio to accomplish the feat.
- Senior co-captain Joey Kuterbach registered his sixth shutout of the season Wednesday against Saint Francis (Pa.), placing him second in the Patriot League. It was also the 16th blanking of his career, putting him in sole possession of fourth place in Bucknell history. He is now just three shutouts behind Mark Wrigley (1990-93).
- In addition to moving up the career shutout list, Kuterbach is nearing Bucknell's top 10 list for saves. He registered four saves on Wednesday to boost his career total to 211, just three behind Bill Roberts (1967-69) for 10th place in Bison history.
About the Series with Lafayette
- Lafayette is Bucknell's third-most common opponent, with the Bison having played the Leopards 57 times. Bucknell has played only Delaware (58 times) and Penn State (66) more in the 78-year history of the program. The Bison have won three of the last five meetings and lead the all-time series 27-23-7. Bucknell defeated the Leopards on penalty kicks (4-3) to win the Patriot League Tournament title last November.
About Lafayette
- Lafayette has not won since defeating rival Lehigh 1-0 on Sept. 29. Since that victory the Leopards are 0-1-3 to move their record to 6-2-5. Lafayette will be looking for its first road victory of the season as it enters the weekend 0-0-4 on the road. A loss on Saturday will make it imperative for Lafayette to wins its final two Patriot League games in order to have a chance to qualify for the Patriot League Tournament.
- Senior Scott Hawkins leads Lafayette in goals (5) and points (11). Those totals place him tied for third in the Patriot League in both categories. Hawkins' five goals are just two less than Leopard opponents have tallied this season.
- Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week Philip Nelson has been very good for Lafayette in goal this season. He leads the Patriot League in goals-against average (0.50), save percentage (.878) and shutouts (7).
Up Next
- Bucknell will play both its final road match and its final non-league game of the season on Wednesday when it travels to Newark, N.J., to face NJIT. The Highlanders enter the weekend with a 2-10-1 record.
