Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Army
Powell's Blast Leads Bucknell Men's Soccer Past Army, 2-1
10/15/2010 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 15, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Andrew Powell (Charlton, Mass./St. John's) scored on a sensational 48-yard strike two minutes into the second half, lifting the Bucknell men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Army Friday night at blustery Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium. Josh Plump (Millburn, N.J./Millburn) also scored for the Bison, who improved to 2-1-1 in the Patriot League.
Bucknell temporarily moved within two points of Patriot League co-leaders Colgate and American, both of which will be in action on Saturday against Lafayette and Navy, respectively. The Bison entered the weekend in a three-way tie for third place with Navy and Lehigh, so it was a critical three points against a hard-working Army side on Friday.
It was a physical affair throughout with 32 fouls and three yellow cards issued, but Bucknell prevailed behind a highlight reel goal by Powell and then some key saves by Marc Hartmann (Bradenton, Fla./St. Stephen's) to protect the lead.
Bucknell almost scored just 90 seconds into the game, when Luke Joyner (Dallas, Texas/J.J. Pearce) did well to judge a long cross from Mayowa Alli (Lanham, Md./Bishop McNamara) that hung up in the stiff wind, and Ryan Currens had to be in the right spot to stop Joyner's 8-yard header.
The Bison did grab the lead on Plump's goal in the 19th minute. Brendan Burgdorf (Westfield, N.J./Pingry School) set it up when he dribbled down the left flank, drew a second defender, then slipped a pass to Plump just inside the 18. Plump had time and space to crank a low shot to past Currens into the left side of the net.
With the goal, Plump tied Burgdorf for the team lead with four goals on the season.
Bucknell's lead lasted only 6:18, however, as Army struck back on a counter attack. T.J. Rowe, a substitute who had just come on, made a long run down the middle of the field, then passed wide to his left to Tanner Robertson. With Hartmann charging out, Robertson snuck a shot inside the far post to even the game at 1.
The chilly fans had barely returned from a halftime trip to the concession stand when Powell brought them right back to their feet. Bucknell earned a corner kick in the opening moments of the second half, and after the ball pinballed around a bit in the box, Army cleared. But Powell walked in from his back-line position not far inside the midfield stripe and crushed a shot through traffic and into the left side of the goal.
Powell's most recent goal was a game-winner in the final minutes against Colgate last season, and it also came on a long-range shot. In fact, all three of Powell's career tallies have been second-half game-winning goals.
Hartmann made three saves in the game, but all of them were testers after the Bison had taken the lead. With about 38 minutes remaining in the game he was screened by a defender and had to make a last-second punch to steer aside a Michael Kim free kick. With only 14:20 left in the game, Army's Cameron Jarvis got in behind the defense after a nice pass by Robertson, but Hartmann made a terrific save to keep it 1-1. And then with just six minutes to play Kim had a 20-yarder teed up, but Hartmann got to his right post to make the save.
Bucknell nearly grabbed an insurance marker with four minutes left when Plump turned on the afterburners to outrace two defenders to a long bouncing ball. Currens came way out, Plump got there first, but his chip over the keeper's head toward the empty net just skimmed wide of the right post.
Army had one last look on a free kick from just inside midfield with 30 seconds left, but the Bison cleared. The Black Knights (1-10, 0-4) put one more in the box in the final 15 seconds but were called for a foul and time expired.
Bucknell finished with a 17-12 shot advantage, while Army had a 10-6 edge in corner kicks. The Bison were whistled for 19 fouls compared to 13 for Army.
The Bison have now won 11 of the last 12 meetings with Army.
Bucknell will be back in action on Wednesday with a non-league game against Adelphi. The contest will be shown live on Bison Vision via BucknellBison.com.
