Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer in Must-Win Situation Saturday at American
11/6/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 6, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's soccer team came through in a do-or-die situation last week at Lehigh, and now the Bison will have to do it again on Saturday when they travel to Washington, D.C., for a 1 p.m. game against American in the regular-season finale.
American comes into the game in a three-way tie for first place alongside Holy Cross and Colgate with 13 standings points, so the Eagles will be playing for the regular-season title and the right to host the four-team Patriot League Tournament. Lafayette enters the final weekend in the No. 4 spot with 11 points, but Bucknell (9) and Lehigh (8) are still within striking distance.
The Bison can get into the postseason with a win at American and a Holy Cross win over Lafayette (Saturday, 1 p.m.). A Bucknell win and Lafayette tie would give both the Bison and Leopards 12 points, but Lafayette won the head-to-head matchup two weeks ago and holds the tiebreaker over Bucknell.
American will be looking for some retribution in this one, as the Bison scored a 3-0 win in last year's finale to clinch a postseason berth and knock the Eagles out of the playoffs.
BISON MEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
Coverage
- Click HERE to listen to the Bucknell-American game on aueagles.com.
Series Notes
- American holds a 5-3 series lead, with all but one of the eight meetings coming as Patriot League rivals.
- The Eagles won the first three meetings by a combined 11-2 margin, but the Bison have won three of the last five.
- Justin Wolf, Conor O'Brien and Ross Liberati all scored in Bucknell's 3-0 win last season in Lewisburg.
About American
- The Eagles are 8-7-2 overall and 4-1-1 in the Patriot League. They have won five of their last seven games, with four of the five wins coming by shutout.
- Most recently, American defeated Army 2-0 on Monday in the makeup of an earlier weather postponement. Jack Scott and Cameron Petty scored for the Eagles, who held Army to two shots on goal.
- Among American's non-conference wins were a 3-0 rout of North Carolina State and a 4-1 verdict over Georgetown.
- AU has outscored opponents 24-20 on the season. The Eagles have gotten balanced scoring. Scott and Anthony Moy lead the team with four goals, while Karsten Smith and Daniel Shannon have three each. Seven Eagles have two or more goals and 11 have at least one.
- Matt Makowski has started all 17 games in goal. He has a .762 save percentage, a 1.14 goals-against average and six shutouts. Four of those shutous have come in Patriot League play.
Last Time Out
- Facing elimination from the postseason with a loss, Bucknell gave up two goal in the first 10 minutes at Lehigh last Saturday night, but the Bison made a stirring rally and came back to win 3-2.
- Conor O'Brien got one of those goals back for the Bison with a sliding redirect of Alex Russo's cross in the 17th minute. Dirk Swaneveld blasted one home in the 52nd minute to tie the game at 2-2, and O'Brien scored again on a free kick with 27 minutes to play to put the Bison ahead.
- Shots were even at 14-apiece. Bucknell took six corner kicks and did not give one up to Lehigh.
Bison Briefs
- Bucknell has now recorded at least eight wins in four straight seasons for only the second time in program history. The only other time it happened was 1973-76.
- Last week Chris Hennings, Patrick Selwood and Jason Soto were all named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II First Team. That's three of the 11 spots on the team occupied by Bison student-athletes.
- Conor O'Brien was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after his two-goal game at Lehigh, while Dirk Swaneveld was picked as the PL Defensive Player of the Week.
- O'Brien now has a point in four straight games and five of his last six. Earlier in the year he had a six-game points streak, which was tied for third-longest in school history.
- O'Brien also took over the Patriot League scoring lead from teammate Chris Hennings. O'Brien now has 21 points on seven goals and seven assists. He has tied his career high for goals in a season and surpassed his personal best for assists and points.
- Swaneveld's tying goal was his first tally of the season. In fact, his only other career goal also came at Lehigh from a similar spot on the field in the 2006 Patriot League Tournament.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Will Byrne evened his record at 3-3 on the season. Bynre has started each of the last four contests.
- The Bison now have 32 goals on the season with 26 against. The Bison lead the Patriot League in goals, assists, and shots.
- O'Brien and Hennings are tied for second in the league in goals per game, while Mark Schmiegel ranks ninth.
- O'Brien, Hennings and Matt Hittson all rank in the top 10 in assists.
Weekly Awards and Honors
- Patriot League BRINE Offensive Player of the Week: Chris Hennings (Sept. 2), Mark Schmiegel (Sept. 29 and Oct. 13), Conor O'Brien (Nov. 3).
- Patriot League BRINE Goalkeeper of the Week: Tommy Caso (Sept. 8).
- Patriot League BRINE Defensive Player of the Week: Ross Liberati (Sept. 8), Dirk Swaneveld (Nov. 3).
- Patriot League BRINE Rookie of the Week: Tommy Caso (Sept. 8), Luke Joyner (Sept. 29).
- Soccer America Team of the Week: Ross Liberati (Sept. 8).
- Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week: Chris Hennings (Sept. 4).
- Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week: Chris Hennings (Sept. 1).
Looking Ahead
- If Bucknell qualifies for the Patriot League Tournament, it would play again next Friday, Nov. 14 at the home of the highest seed.
