Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
NJIT
Bucknell Men's Soccer Equals School Victory Mark with 2-0 Win at NJIT
10/27/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 27, 2009
NEWARK, N.J. - Senior goalkeeper Will Byrne (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna) came up with a shutout in his first start of the season, and goals from sophomore Luke Joyner (Dallas, Texas/J.J. Pearce) and freshman Josh Plump (Millburn, N.J./Millburn) helped the Bucknell men's soccer team equal the school victory record with a 2-0 blanking of New Jersey Institute of Technology at Lubetkin Field on Tuesday night. Now 13-4, the Bison matched the program wins record set previously by the 2002 team.
Byrne was outstanding in this one. He made three saves and was instrumental in organizing the team after some early struggles. Bucknell outshot the Highlanders (4-12) 16-14 overall and 9-3 in shots on goal. Ryan Sutherland had seven saves for NJIT and kept the Bison off the scoreboard in the first half. Bucknell finally broke through in the second, scoring twice in a span of just 3:26 on a pair of headers.
First, it was Joyner heading in a corner kick from Ryan Sappington (Barboursville, Va./Shattuck-St. Mary's) in the 57th minute. Joyner's second goal of the season came at the near post. Moments later the Bison had a 2-0 lead after a pretty passing combination. Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) one-timed a pass to Joyner, who sent it over to Plump, who headed it home from about 12 yards out.
O'Brien picked up his Patriot League-leading seventh assist of the season to go along with his league-best 10 goals. He now has 23 career assists, moving him into sole possession of second place on Bucknell's career list. Only Dave Domsohn (34 from 1985-88) has had more assists in a Bucknell uniform. Incredibly, O'Brien now has a point in 14 of the team's 17 games this season and in 19 of the last 22 games dating back to last year.
Plump scored his first career goal on Saturday in a win at Colgate, and now he has struck in two straight contests. It was the 12th goal this season scored by a Bison freshman.
Bucknell finished with a 13-5-1 record in 2002 to establish the program mark for wins in a season. Three other squads won 12 games.
The Bison have now won six straight road games since dropping their first away contest of the season at New Hampshire. Including neutral-site matches, Bucknell is 8-1 away from home in 2009.
Despite that fact, the Bison will be glad to play their final two regular-season games of the season at their own Emmitt Field. The first of those critical Patriot League contests comes on Friday against Lafayette. The 8 p.m. contest will air live on Fox Soccer Channel.
