Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Opens Patriot League Play Saturday vs. Navy, Game to be Preceded by Holmes Stadium Dedication
9/25/2008 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 25, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The start of Patriot League play has arrived for the Bison men's soccer team, which hosts Navy on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The contest, which will air live on Bison Vision, will be preceded by a ceremony to officially dedicate Holmes Stadium. All fans are invited to a pregame tailgate reception at 6 p.m., followed by the dedication at 6:50 p.m. and the Bucknell-Navy game at 7 p.m.
BISON MEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
Coverage
- Click HERE to watch the Bucknell-Navy game live.
- Click HERE for Bucknell-Navy GameTracker.
Series Notes
- Navy holds a 23-6-2 lead in an all-time series that dates back to 1930, which was just the second season of varsity soccer at Bucknell.
- The Bison have gotten the better of the Midshipmen in recent years, however. Bucknell is 5-0-1 against Navy since 2002, including shutouts in each of the last two meetings.
- Last season in Annapolis the Bison won 2-0 behind goals from Justin Wolf and Mark Schmiegel. Bucknell was outshot 12-5, and the game was still in doubt until Schmiegel's insurance goal with just 19 seconds remaining.
About Navy
- Navy comes to town with a 4-3-1 record. The Midshipmen began the month of September with a three-game winning streak (Adelphi, Lipscomb, St. Joseph's, all in overtime), and most recently they won 1-0 at Birmingham-Southern.
- The Birmingham-Southern win came on the heels of back-to-back 1-0 losses to George Washington and Air Force.
- Navy has allowed only two goals in its last four contests, but is has scored only two in its last four.
- Chris Marino and Mike Porcelli have two goals apiece to lead the team.
- Nolan Grebb has played seven games in goal for the Mids and has a 0.85 goals-against average.
- Navy is 3-0-1 in overtime games this season. Porcelli, Sam Miller and Wes Powell have the golden goals.
Last Time Out
- The Bison dropped their third straight contest on Wednesday afternoon in Loretto, Pa., falling 2-1 in overtime to Saint Francis (Pa.).
- Conor O'Brien tied the game at 1-1 on a free kick with only 9:49 left in regulation, but Owen Gombami's second goal of the day 8:54 into overtime won it for the Red Flash.
- Will Byrne made his second start in goal and made three seves. Defender Matt Hittson twice cleared balls off the line to save goals.
- Bucknell had a 9-3 edge in corner kicks but was outshot 17-13.
Bison Briefs
- After allowing only one goal in three straight games -- a 1-1 tie with No. 10 Ohio State and back-to-back shutouts of Penn State and Cornell -- Bucknell has allowed nine goals in the four games since.
- The Bison have now scored at least once in 24 straight games dating back more than a full year. The previous school record was 15.
- Conor O'Brien has been on quite a roll lately. O'Brien has a goal in three straight games and a point in six in a row. He is now second on the squad with points (3G, 4A).
- Chris Hennings continues to lead the Patriot League in goals (7) and points (14). No other league player has more than three goals.
- Saturday's game will be just the team's third at home this season. Including games at La Salle and Holy Cross next week, the Bison play nine of their first 12 games on the road in 2008.
- The Bison carry a four-game home unbeaten streak (3-0-1) into Saturday's game with Navy.
- Bucknell has won its last five conference openers in a row, by a combined margin of 12-1.
Weekly Awards and Honors
- Patriot League BRINE Offensive Player of the Week: Chris Hennings (Sept. 2).
- Patriot League BRINE Goalkeeper of the Week: Tommy Caso (Sept. 8).
- Patriot League BRINE Defensive Player of the Week: Ross Liberati (Sept. 8).
- Patriot League BRINE Rookie of the Week: Tommy Caso (Sept. 8).
- 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
- The Bison step back away from Patriot League play on Wednesday night when they travel to La Salle for a 7 p.m. contest. Bucknell defeated La Salle 2-1 at home last season. Then on Saturday, the Bison face their longest Patriot League road trip of the season when they visit Holy Cross for a 3 p.m. contest in Worcester, Mass. The Crusaders currently own a league-best 4-1-2 record, including a season-opening 1-0 win over then-No. 13 UMass, a Final Four team in 2007.
