Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
St. Peter's
Bucknell Men's Soccer Outruns St. Peter's, 3-1
10/22/2008 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 22, 2008
Final Stats |
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| Game Highlights/Wrap-up
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) registered a goal and an assist, Alex Russo (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) scored on a penalty kick and Will Byrne (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna) had a big night in goal en route to his first career victory, as the Bucknell men's soccer team ran past St. Peter's 3-1 at chilly Holmes Stadium on Wednesday night.
In an entertaining game that featured 41 total shots, two penalty kicks and plenty of end-to-end action, Bucknell made a 2-0 halftime lead stand up and improved to 6-6-3 on the season. St. Peter's, a 2007 NCAA Tournament team, fell to 6-6-2.
Byrne, a sophomore, drew his third career start in this one and made a number of key saves. Just nine minutes in, he stopped St. Peter's leading scorer Udi Naim twice in a row, then defender Patrick Selwood (Darnestown, Md./The Heights School) headed a third volley from Naim off the line to keep the match scoreless.
Not long after, the Bison played the ball in the box and a Peacocks defender touched the ball with his hand, resulting in a penalty kick. Russo converted his second PK in as many tries this season, and the Bison led 1-0 just 13:48 into the match.
Bucknell, which was shutout for the first time in 29 games on Saturday by Colgate, made it 2-0 in the 25th minute, converting on its first of five corner kicks on the night. O'Brien played the corner kick to Ross Liberati (Warwick, Md./Tower Hill) near the back post. Liberati headed the ball parallel to the goal line to freshman Luke Joyner (Dallas, Texas/JJ Pearce), who headed it into the goal for his second tally of the year.
Bucknell was dominating in the second half, finding plenty of open space in the St. Peter's end of the field, but the Peacocks countered in the 61st minute and a Bison defender was called for a push just inside the box, giving the visitors a penalty try of their own. Byrne appeared to get a fingertip on Assaf Sheleg's shot to the low right corner, but it went across to make it a 2-1 game.
With 14 minutes to play and his team clinging to a one-goal lead, Byrne made a tricky save on Lebogang Pila, then dove to his left to smother Braulio Constantino's rebound shot. Only a minute later Byrne robbed Constantino again from close range.
After surviving the St. Peter's flurry, Bucknell tacked on a big insurance marker in the 80th minute. Matt Hittson (Radnor, Pa./Radnor) sent in a long throw-in from the left sideline that Anthony Ferraro (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) directed with his head to O'Brien, who was wide open at the top of the 6-yard box. O'Brien buried his fourth goal of the year to make it 3-1.
Bucknell outshot St. Peter's 21-20 and avenged a 2-1 loss in Jersey City last season. The Bison now lead the all-time series 9-2-1.
The three-goal output was Bucknell's largest since a 3-0 win over Cornell on Sept. 12.
Bucknell returns to Patriot League play on Saturday with a key road assignment at Lafayette. Game time is 7 p.m. in Easton, Pa.
