Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
La Salle
Bucknell Men's Soccer Opens Season with 2-1 Win over La Salle
9/1/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 1, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Senior Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) thrilled a large opening-night crowd by scoring two goals to lead the Bucknell men's soccer team to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over visiting La Salle Tuesday night at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium. The Bison fell behind just 6:27 into the match, but O'Brien, the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, tallied two pretty goals and the defense held up late to preserve the win.
Bucknell's starting lineup featured three freshmen - Brendan Burgdorf (Westfield, N.J./The Pingry School), CK Kumah (Accra, Ghana/The Hotchkiss School) and Jermaine Jarrett (Kingston, Jamaica/The Hotchkiss School) - and three others with limited starting experience in junior Travis Rand (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook) and sophomores Ryan Sappington (Barboursville, Va./Shattuck-St. Mary's) and Andrew Powell (Charlton, Mass./St. John's). The new-look ensemble bent early, when the defense left Ryan Sepe alone in the box, and Glenroy Chapman connected with a pass from deep in the right corner. Sepe settled, turned and scored from about seven yards out on La Salle's first shot of the match.
O'Brien, who had a good look at the cage turned aside by Explorers keeper Kyle Quigley in the opening stages of the game, evened things up in the 16th minute on a spectacular play. A La Salle (0-1) player tried to dribble out of his own end, but O'Brien came up and made a clean tackle, then quickly launched a rocket from 25 yards out that struck the left post and went in.
Both sides generated some scoring chances later in the first half, but Quigley and Bucknell sophomore keeper Tommy Caso (Phoenix, Md./McDonogh) were both up to the task. Caso made all four of his saves on the night in the first half, including a tricky one on Chapman, who tried to sneak one in from a sharp angle on the left side of the goal. Quigley's best first-half save came on Burgdorf, a diving stop back to his left after the Bison rookie had him moving the other way.
Bucknell began to control the tempo midway through the second half, and the Bison cashed in the 73rd minute thanks to a perfect through ball from Sappington to O'Brien. O'Brien ran on to Sappington's long pass inside the box and his first touch was a shot over the sliding keeper to make it 2-1.
Bucknell kept up the pressure, and only three minutes later Burgdorf made two nifty moves to shake off two defenders, only to be robbed by Quigley coming off his line.
There were a few tense moments for the Bison fans in the waning minutes. With just over eight minutes left Bucknell committed a foul just outside the box, but the defense cleared away the dangerous free kick. About four minutes later there was another scramble inside the 18, but Mike Pio's volley drifted harmlessly over the crossbar.
O'Brien, who last month was named a candidate for the Hermann Trophy, hit the 50-point mark for his career with his two goals. He needs just four more points to move into the top 10 on Bucknell's career list. It was his third career multi-goal game.
Both teams attempted 13 shots, with O'Brien leading all players with six. La Salle had five corner kicks to two for the Bison.
The opening night attendance was 962, including a large contingent from the North Union United Soccer Club, which was recognized at halftime.
Bucknell returns to action this weekend at the Nike Fall Classic, hosted by New Hampshire. The Bison will take on host UNH Friday at 7 p.m. and Vermont on Sunday at noon.
