Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Syracuse
O'Brien's Late Goal Lifts Bucknell Men's Soccer to 1-0 Win over Syracuse and Mayor's Cup Title
9/13/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 13, 2009
ONEONTA, N.Y. - Bucknell scoring machine Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) did it again on Sunday, netting the game's only goal with just 2:58 left in regulation to give the Bison a 1-0 victory over Syracuse on day two of the Mayor's Cup. It was Bucknell's second 1-0 triumph of the weekend, its third straight win overall and fourth in five matches this season.
Bucknell's victory, coupled with Hartwick's 3-0 win over Loyola (Md.) later in the day, gave the Bison the Mayor's Cup championship. O'Brien earned the Jim Lennox Offensive Most Valuable Player Award, while Bucknell goalkeeper Tommy Caso (Phoenix, Md./McDonogh) was given the Garth Stam Defensive Most Valuable Player Award. O'Brien and Caso joined Bison fullbacks Patrick Selwood (Darnestown, Md./The Heights School) and Ross Liberati (Warwick, Md./Tower Hill) on the all-tournament team.
It was Bucknell's third tournament title in the last two seasons. In 2008 the Bison won the Penn State Classic as well as their own tournament.
On Sunday the Bison outshot Syracuse (1-4) 18-17 overall and 12-6 in the second half, but they struggled to get one past the Orange's outstanding keeper, Ryan Jones. With the game still scoreless and eight minutes remaining in regulation, Jones made a terrific diving save on a 35-yard blast from Sean King (Medford, N.J./Shawnee). Two minutes later the Syracuse netminder turned away CK Kumah (Accra, Ghana/The Hotchkiss School) from point-blank range.
Bucknell finally got on the board in the 88th minute. Luke Joyner (Dallas, Texas/J.J. Pearce) settled a ball just outside the penalty area and passed to O'Brien, who took a touch and then fired a shot that ricocheted off a Syracuse defender and past the outstretched hand of Jones. It was Joyner's second assist of the year and the fifth goal for O'Brien.
The tally also gives O'Brien a point in 10 straight games dating back to last year. That is a new school record, surpassing Ken Gulick's nine-game streak in 1989. With five goals and two assists, O'Brien has had a hand in all seven Bison goals this season.
While Jones had a strong afternoon for Syracuse with six saves, Bucknell's Caso was even better, stopping eight shots en route to his second straight shutout. The Bison defense, despite being thinned by injuries to two starters, has now gone 230:43 without allowing a goal.
Kumah led all players with six shot attempts for Bucknell, while fellow rookie Josh Plump (Millburn, N.J./Millburn) added four.
Bucknell and Syracuse were battling for the first time since 1942. The Orange now lead the all-time series 3-2-1.
The Bison will now take a week off before opening a four-game homestand next Sunday against College of Charleston at noon at Emmitt Field.
