Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Hosts American Saturday with PL Tournament Berth on the Line
11/8/2007 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 8, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the fourth straight year, the Bucknell men's soccer team enters its final match of the regular season with a berth in the Patriot League Tournament on the line. The Bison host American at 4 p.m. Saturday at Varsity Soccer Field needing a win to qualify for their fourth postseason appearance in the last five years.
Bucknell (8-5-4, 3-2-1 PL) currently stands in fifth place in the Patriot League standings with 10 points. American (6-8-3, 3-1-2 PL) and Lafayette are tied with 11 points. The Eagles will garner a playoff position with a win or a tie. They can also qualify for the Patriot League Tournament if they lose and Lafayette loses to Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon.
Bucknell Men's Soccer Notebook
Bucknell Recently (8-5-4 Overall, 3-2-1 Patriot League)
- Nov. 2: 2007\ Bucknell\ Men\'s\ Soccer\ Statistics
Bucknell Notes
- Bucknell has lost just twice in its last 12 games, going 8-2-2 over that span.
- Bucknell's seniors will enter their final game of the regular season with a Patriot League Tournament berth on the line for the fourth time in their careers.
- In 2004, Bucknell trailed 2-0 at Holy Cross and came back to earn a tie and secure a place in the Patriot League Tournament.
- In 2005, Bucknell needed to win or tie against Navy and receive help. The Bison tied Navy 2-2 in Annapolis, Md., but the proper scenarios in the other games on the final day of the season did not occur.
- In 2006, Bucknell needed a win against Navy and an American tie or loss against Army. The Bison defeated the Mids 2-0 and one hour later American lost to Army.
- Bucknell owns a 4-2-2 record at Varsity Soccer Field this year. Since the beginning of the 2000 campaign, Bucknell has posted a 39-13-11 regular-season record in Lewisburg. Among the 39 wins and 11 ties have been 31 shutouts for the Bucknell defense.
- Bucknell has been especially strong in victories this season, outscoring opponents 15-2 in its eight wins.
- Sophomore Conor O'Brien tallied one goal and one assist in last week's 3-1 win over Lehigh. It was his second game with at least three points this season. He has registered four goals in the last five games and leads the squad with six goals and 16 points. The Mt. Sinai, N.Y., native is second in the Patriot League in points and tied for fourth in goals.
- Goalkeeper Joey Kuterbach continued his impressive senior campaign last week against Lehigh. The Kingwood, Texas, native recorded five saves and was less than three minutes from his eighth shutout of the season before Lehigh netted its first goal. Kuterbach has 67 saves and a 0.80 goals-against average this season. His career goals-against average of 0.92 ranks fifth in Patriot League history. Additionally, Kuterbach is moving up the Bison career saves list. He now has 228 to rank eighth in Bucknell history, just four behind seventh-place Kevin Meyer.
- Senior Justin Wolf totaled two assists last Friday against Lehigh, giving him a team-high five this season. That figure is tied for first in the Patriot League and has boosted Wolf's career total to 13, which is tied with Steve Goldenring for 10th place in Bucknell history.
- Freshman Ross Liberati was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week following his goal against Lehigh. The Warwick, Md., native has three goals this season, all coming on headers at home against Patriot League foes.
- Bucknell is ranked seventh in the latest NSCAA Mid-Atlantic rankings.
- With its win last Friday against Lehigh, Bucknell picked up its eighth victory of the season. The Bison have totaled at least eight wins three consecutive years for the first time since 1981-83.
- Prior to Saturday's match, Bucknell's seven seniors, as well as one manager, will be honored as part of Senior Day festivities. Bucknell's eight seniors that will be honored are: Corey Curnutte, David Harris, Kevin Holmes, Andy Kummer, Joey Kuterbach, Joe Mellott, Justin Wolf and manager Dan Shuman, who is a former member of the team.
About the Series with American
- Bucknell is 2-5 all-time against American, losing to the Eagles each of the last two years. The series dates back to 1996, but the last six meetings have come since American has been a member of the Patriot League. The Eagles hold a 4-2 advantage in Patriot League play.
About American
- American has won just once in its last four games, but three of those games have gone to overtime. The Eagles are looking to advance to the Patriot League Tournament for the third time in the last four years.
- Daniel Shannon leads American with three goals this season. As a team, the Eagles have registered just 16 goals and have been outscored 25-16. However, that deficit is a little misleading since they lost to South Florida 6-1 and VCU 5-0.
- Senior Chris Sedlak was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week last week after picking up his sixth shutout of the season in a double-overtime tie with first-place Colgate. Sedlak has 75 saves this season and a goals-against average of 1.41.
Up Next
- If Bucknell wins, it will play in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament next Friday, Nov. 16. Either Holy Cross or Colgate will be the host institution pending the outcome of Saturday's matches.
