Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Takes Three Patriot League Weekly Honors After 2-0 Week
9/19/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 19, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. -Bucknell sophomore Mayowa Alli (Lanham, Md./Bishop McNamara) earned his second Patriot League BRINE Offensive Player of the Week award in the last three weeks on Monday, and seniors Tommy Caso (Phoenix, Md./McDonogh) and Andrew Powell (Charlton, Mass./St. John's) were also honored after helping the Bison to back-to-back road shutouts over Saint Joseph's and Monmouth over the weekend.
Caso was named the BRINE Goalkeeper of the Week after recording the 15th and 16th shutouts of his career. Powell was picked as the BRINE Defensive Player of the Week, coming back to form after returning from injury to help the Bison hold their opponents to just seven shots on goal in the two games.
On Friday night Bucknell traveled to Philadelphia and blanked Saint Joseph's 1-0, and then on Sunday the Bison picked up their best win of the year, a 2-0 verdict at No. 24 Monmouth. Alli, Bucknell's starting left back, scored both goals against Monmouth in nearly identical fashion, heading in corner kicks off the foot of Joe Meyer.
Alli now has points in five of the team's seven games this season, and he leads the Patriot League in both goals (5) and points (12). He had another two-goal game in a 2-1 win over La Salle back on Sept. 4, and for the second time this season he was named to the College Soccer News national Team of the Week.
In the two games last week, the Bucknell defense held Saint Joseph's and Monmouth to 20 total shots, only seven of which were on goal. Monmouth was ranked in the top five nationally in both 2009 and 2010, and this year they have been ranked as high as No. 18. Like Bucknell, the Hawks played in the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons, and their loss to the Bison was only their fourth at home in the last four seasons.
Caso turned aside all seven of those shots on goal, making four saves against Saint Joseph's and three against Monmouth, including a terrific stop in the second half to preserve the shutout. Caso now owns sole possession of fifth place on Bucknell's career shutout list.
Powell missed three games due to injury before returning last week against Notre Dame. The two-time All-Patriot League defender was in good form last week as Bucknell collected its first two shutouts of the season. This is Powell's second career Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Bucknell heads back to Philadelphia on Wednesday to take on Drexel at 7 p.m., then the Bison open up Patriot League play at home against Lehigh on Saturday at 4 p.m.
