Bucknell University
Saint Joseph's
Joyner's Header Lifts Bison Men's Soccer to 1-0 Win at Saint Joseph's
9/16/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 16, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Luke Joyner (Dallas, Texas/J.J. Pearce) headed in a long free kick from CK Kumah (Accra, Ghana/Hotchkiss School) in the 51st minute, leading the Bucknell men's soccer team to a 1-0 road victory over Saint Joseph's on Friday night at Finnesey Field. Tommy Caso (Phoenix, Md./McDonogh) earned the shutout with four saves as the Bison head to Monmouth for a big non-league encounter on Sunday.
Bucknell outshot Saint Joseph's 16-9, putting seven shots on target, in improving to 3-3 on the season. The Hawks, who were coming off a 2-0 blanking of Patriot League foe Army earlier in the week, fell to 1-3.
After a scoreless first half, Bucknell got on the board at the 50:34 mark after Saint Joseph's was called for a foul near midfield. Kumah sent in a free kick from about 40 yards out, and Joyner headed it home for his second goal of the season. Kumah's assist was his first point of the season.
Bucknell had two more good scoring chances late in the game, but both were thwarted by Hawks goalkeeper Andrew D'Ottavi. Joyner almost scored on another header from close range on a corner kick, but D'Ottavi deflected it off the crossbar and then grabbed the loose ball. Later, Brendan Burgdorf (Westfield, N.J./Pingry) had a breakaway but was denied by the keeper.
Joyner led the Bison with six shot attempts, while Burgdorf and Mayowa Alli (Lanham, Md./Bishop McNamara) added three each.
Caso made three of his four saves in the first half en route to his first shutout of the season. It was Caso's 15th career clean sheet, tying him Kevin Meyer for fifth place on Bucknell's all-time list.
After playing two nationally ranked teams last week in Indiana and Notre Dame, the Bison have another tough test on Sunday when they travel to coach Brendan Nash's hometown to take on Monmouth. Like Bucknell, the Hawks are coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. They have been ranked as high as No. 18 in the nation this season and are now No. 24 in the College Soccer News poll. Monmouth belted Seton Hall 3-0 on Friday to improve to 4-1 on the season.
