Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Rallies to Defeat Bucknell Men's Soccer, 2-1
9/4/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 4, 2009
DURHAM, N.H. - Senior midfielder Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) scored his third goal in two games, but New Hampshire rallied with two second-half goals to turn back the Bucknell men's soccer team 2-1 on the opening night of the Nike Fall Classic.
The Bison (1-1) won their season opener on Tuesday 2-1 over La Salle when O'Brien netted both goals, and the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year scored again in the 44th minute of this one. After classmate Sean King (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) played a ball into the top corner of the box, O'Brien hit a rocket inside the far post for his 18th career goal.
Bucknell took that 1-0 lead into intermission, but in the second half the host Wildcats (1-1) outshot the Bison 9-3 and outscored them 2-0. Jordan Thomas tied it in the 61st minute after assists from Chris Banks and Robin Gerum. Then in the 77th minute, Bucknell goalkeeper Tommy Caso (Phoenix, Md./McDonogh) came out to challenge Dylan George on a breakaway and was called for a foul in the box. Banks, one of New Hampshire's all-time leading scorers, collected his 24th career goal on the ensuing penalty kick.
The Bison managed one more shot in closing minutes, but O'Brien's header went high. Caso finished with six saves, while his counterpart, Colin O'Connell, stopped two shots.
"We have a very young team, and one of the things we are going to have to improve on is playing with a lead," said head coach Brendan Nash. "Hopefully it was a learning experience for us, and we have another chance on Sunday."
UNH finished with an 18-10 shot advantage and had five corner kicks to Bucknell's four.
Earlier on Friday, Central Connecticut State defeated Vermont 2-1. The Bison will play Vermont at noon on Sunday.
