Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's McCabe, Alli Earn Weekly Honors after Big Soccer Week
10/25/2010 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 25, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior midfielder Tommy McCabe (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney) picked up two player of the week honors and freshman defender Mayowa Alli (Lanham, Md./Bishop McNamara) one on Monday after a couple of outstanding performances in the team's 1-0-1 week. McCabe was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, and he also picked up Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week honors. Alli was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week.
The week began with a non-league home game against Adelphi, and McCabe delivered a 1-0 win with a goal with just 16 seconds remaining in regulation. After teammate Brendan Burgdorf was tripped just outside the penalty area, McCabe blasted the free kick into the top left corner of the net.
On Saturday night the Bison had a critical Patriot league home match against first-place Colgate, a team that had not allowed a goal in league play coming in. Things looked bleak for Bucknell when the Raiders scored with 5:57 remaining to take a 3-1 lead. But the Bison roared back a minute later. They earned a corner kick, and McCabe sent a perfect service to Alli in the middle of the box, where the rookie left back slammed in a header to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 4:56 left in regulation.
Less than a minute later Colgate was called for a foul near the left sideline about 50 yards from the goal. This time Alli moved to the back post, and McCabe again delivered a precise ball, where Alli shot it off the bottom of the crossbar and in to tie the game with 4:06 left.
Alli had yet another look in the box in the final minutes, but his shot at a hat trick just went wide.
In the first overtime period McCabe saved the game with an incredible defensive play. A Colgate player got in on a breakaway and chipped a shot over the head of charging goalkeeper Marc Hartmann toward a vacated net. From out of nowhere, McCabe sprinted to the goal and bicycle-kicked the ball away just before it crossed the line.
McCabe now leads the Patriot League with six assists on the season. He also has two goals, and his 10 points rank sixth in the conference.
Alli has been a regular starter on the Bison back line all season. He has been solid defensively and also has two goals and two assists.
The Bison are 4-1-2 in their last seven games, 6-6-2 on the season and 2-1-2 in the Patriot League. With eight standings points, Bucknell is tied for fourth place with Navy, but just two points out of second place. The Bison host NJIT in a non-league game on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. - the final home game of the year - and then they travel to Lafayette for a key conference game on Saturday at 3 p.m.
