Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy
Bucknell Men's Soccer Opens PL Play with 2-0 Win at Navy
9/29/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 29, 2007
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Behind goals from Justin Wolf (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) and Mark Schmiegel (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North), the Bucknell men's soccer team opened its Patriot League schedule with a 2-0 win at Navy Saturday evening. The Bison extended their unbeaten streak to four games and have now won five consecutive Patriot League openers.
Wolf tallied his third goal in four games in the 18th minute. Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's), who collected his team-high third assist of the season, took the ball at midfield and dribbled through traffic before finding Wolf just outside the 18-yard box. Wolf then beat a defender and knocked the ball into the goal off the right post for his team-high third goal.
The Bison, who have posted three shutouts in the last four matches, were able to then focus on the defensive side of the field. Navy did lead in shots by a 12-5 margin, but goalkeeper Joey Kuterbach (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) needed to make just three saves to record his fourth shutout of the season, and the 14th of his career.
Bucknell (3-3-3, 1-0-0 PL) clinched the win with 19 seconds remaining when Kevin Holmes (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) found Schmiegel behind the Navy defense. Schmiegel then beat the Mids' keeper, Evan Barnes, for his second goal of the season to equal his career high.
Despite scoring two goals, the Bison offense was quiet most of the night, attempting just five shots. Barnes made only one save in the contest.
Bucknell has now defeated Navy (4-2-1, 0-1-0 PL) in six of the last eight meetings between the teams, with the last loss coming in 2001.
The Bison will step back out of Patriot League play Tuesday, Oct. 2, when they host La Salle at Varsity Soccer Field. Kickoff for the match that begins a two-game homestand is slated for 7 p.m.
