Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Virginia
Bucknell's Magical Soccer Season Ends in Virginia
11/22/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 22, 2009
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Bucknell men's soccer team's record-setting campaign came to an end on Sunday afternoon Klockner Stadium, as No. 2 Virginia scored four times in the first half and went on to post a 5-0 victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Backed by a hat trick from Will Bates and a goal and two assists from Tony Tchani, the Atlantic Coast Conference champion Cavaliers improved to 15-3-3, while the Bison finish 17-6-0.
For the second time in the last four years Bucknell advanced to the NCAA Round of 32 after beating Princeton 1-0 on Thursday night. Unfortunately, just like in 2006, the tournament run ended in Charlottesville.
The run of play in the game was not nearly as one-sided as the scoreboard made it appear. There was plenty of action at both ends of the field, and Bucknell led 9-1 in corner kicks. The final shot count was 15-10 overall and 7-5 in shots on frame in favor of Virginia. Cavaliers goalkeeper Diego Restrepo, who was just named the MVP of the ACC Tournament, was forced to come up with five saves, four of which were challenging.
"We had some great scoring chances, and it certainly didn't feel like a 5-0 game," said Bison head coach Brendan Nash. "But that is a credit to Virginia, and how they make the most of their opportunities. Their keeper made some great saves to keep us off the board. We are certainly disappointed in the result, but it was a great effort, and at some point we will look back on this season with fond memories."
Bison keeper Tommy Caso made a great diving save on All-America candidate Tchani in the second minute of the game, but Bucknell countered right back and nearly scored in the fourth minute. Conor O'Brien carried the ball into the box from the left side and slipped a nifty pass to the second cutter, Ryan Sappington, but Sappington was robbed by Restrepo.
Only two minutes later, Virginia was on the board as Tchani won a ball at the top of the box and played Bates in for a goal from about 15 yards out.
Bucknell nearly equalized in the 15th minute when O'Brien sent a header toward the crossbar, but Restrepo tipped it down, then scrambled to slap away the rebound.
Hunter Jumper made it 2-0 in the 28th minute when he scored with a low shot inside the left post from the top of the 18. Only 2:21 later, Shawn Barry was knocked down in the box and the Cavaliers were awarded a penalty kick. Tchani, who had picked up his first two assists of the season earlier in the game, buried the PK just to the left of a diving Caso.
Bates did well to maintain possession on a scramble in the box in the 37th minute, and he scored with a hard low shot to make it 4-0. Bates completed the hat trick early in the second half when he chipped a ball over Caso's head on a breakaway.
Bucknell had two great scoring chances about nine minutes into the second half. First, Tommy McCabe put a good strike on a volley from 12 yards out on the left side, but Restrepo dove to his left to deflect it away. On the ensuing corner kick, Sean King had a good look from the opposite side, but Restrepo came out to make a sliding save.
The game featured one team carrying the nation's longest shutout streak against another boasting the nation's longest goal-scoring streak. Virginia upped its string to nine straight clean sheets, three of which came last week in the ACC Tournament. Meanwhile, Bucknell's run of 27 straight games with a goal came to an end. The last time the Bison were kept off the board was Oct. 28, 2009 against Colgate. Bucknell had scored at least once in 55 of 56 games dating back to 2007.
Bucknell broke school and Patriot League record for wins (17) and shutouts (12). This was Bucknell's fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and the Bison are now 3-5 all-time in NCAA matches.
Sunday's game was the last for Bucknell's winningest senior class of all-time. Co-captains O'Brien and Patrick Selwood along with King, Will Byrne and Alex Meisel finished their careers with a record 43 wins and two Patriot League championships over the last four years.
O'Brien wraps up a brilliant career ranked second on Bucknell's career list for assists (25), sixth in points (77) and ninth in goals (26). His 31 points this season (11 goals, 9 assists) are sixth-most in a season by a Bucknell player.
