Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Rider
Bucknell Men's Soccer Picks Up First Win of Year, Shuts Out Rider 3-0
9/18/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 18, 2007
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Alex Russo (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) scored one goal and assisted on another as the Bucknell men's soccer team tallied a pair of goals in the final 4:04 and won its first game of the season, defeating Rider 3-0 Tuesday. The Bison, who had their goals scored by three different players, improved to 1-3-2 as they concluded their season-opening stretch of five of their first six games away from home.
Corey Curnutte (Waterford, Mich./Detroit Country Day) got things started for Bucknell, which had not scored three goals in a game since last Sept. 9 in a 3-1 win over Rider at home. The senior tallied a goal for the second game in a row when he kicked one into the net at the 8:25 mark from the top of the box. Russo earned the assist, his first of the season.
Neither team scored again until the final minutes, although Bucknell clearly outplayed the Broncs, holding a 15-2 advantage in shots for the contest. The Bison also finished with three corner kicks, compared to none for Rider.
Russo put the Bison up 2-0 at the 85:56 mark when he blasted a hooking shot from about 35 yards out. The ball zoomed past goalie Randall Zapolski and into the top corner of the net. It was Russo's first goal of the season and the sixth of his career, while Conor O'Brien was credited with the assist.
Then, just two seconds before the final horn, Justin Wolf (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) scored on a header. Mark Schmiegel (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) shot and the ball bounced off the post to Wolf, who then headed the ball in to conclude the game's scoring. With one goal and two assists this season, Wolf paces the team in points with four and now has 16 in his career.
Joey Kuterbach (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) was called upon to make just two saves for the Bison as he recorded his second shutout of the year, and the 12th of his career. Zapolski made four saves for Rider, which fell to 2-4 on the season and saw its two-game winning streak snapped.
Having played just one home contest to this point, Bucknell returns home for a pair of games this coming weekend. The Bison will host Buffalo at 5 p.m. Friday and then Niagara at 12 p.m. Sunday. Live video of Friday's contest with the Bulls will be available through BucknellBison.com and SportsJuice.com for a small fee.
