Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Buffalo
O'Brien's Two Goals Help Bucknell Men's Soccer to 2-2 Tie with Buffalo
9/21/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 21, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) netted a career-high two goals, both in the second half, including the go-ahead score with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation, but the Bucknell men's soccer team came away with a tie against Buffalo Friday evening at Varsity Soccer Field as the Bulls evened the score at 2-2 on a goal by Dan Bulley with 5:51 left. The Bison are now 1-3-3 on the year, while Buffalo saw its five-game winning streak come to an end and is now 5-2-1.
After a scoreless first half, O'Brien helped Bucknell tie the game and go ahead in the second half. He evened the score at the 71:41 mark on his third direct kick of the game for his first goal of the season. Earlier he had a direct kick smash into the wall of Buffalo players in front of him and another knocked away from hitting the crossbar by Buffalo goalie Robert Shuttleworth.
Less than 10 minutes later, at the 80:45 mark, O'Brien headed in the go-ahead goal to become the first Bison to score two goals in a game since Nathan LaGrave last September against St. Bonaventure. After a throw-in, Corey Curnutte (Waterford, Mich./Detroit Country Day) passed the ball to Mark Schmiegel (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) in the left corner. Schmiegel quickly shuttled the ball to O'Brien, who converted a diving header for Bucknell's fourth second-half goal in the last two games.
Buffalo evened the score at the 5:51 mark when Dan Bulley netted his second goal of the season off a pass from Dezi Lara.
The Bulls opened up the scoring in the opening minutes of the second half when John Martin pass the ball from the left corner to Dominic Oppong at the top of the box. Oppong touched the ball to Alex Marrello on his left and Marrello fired a hard shot past Bucknell goalie Joey Kuterbach (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood).
Despite allowing two goals for just the third time in his last 12 games, Kuterbach made four saves in the contest.
The Bison outshot the Bulls 16-12, including 4-2 in overtime, but Buffalo had a hefty 8-3 advantage in corner kicks.
With five goals in its last two games, Bucknell has netted that many in back-to-back contests for the first time since defeating Campbell (2-1) and Rider (3-1) in last September's Bucknell Invitational.
Thanks to his two goals Friday, O'Brien jumped into the team lead in scoring with six points this season. He has two goals and a pair of assists this year.
The Bison, who are in the midst of a stretch of four of five games at home, will host Niagara Sunday at 12 p.m. in the first match of a doubleheader with the women's team, which will play Cornell at 3 p.m.
