Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
Bucknell Men's Soccer Falls to American 1-0 in Patriot League Semifinals
11/9/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Bucknell men's soccer team saw its 2012 season come to an end in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals on Friday, as top-seeded American made a 13th-minute goal stand up in a 1-0 victory over the fourth-seeded Bison. Bucknell finishes the year with a 7-8-5 record, while the Eagles advance to Sunday's championship game to face either No. 2 Lafayette or No. 3 American.
Dale McDonald posted the game's lone goal just 12:06 into the match. An American player dribbled past a defender on the right side and pulled a pass back to the top of the 18. Alassane Kane scuffed his shot, but McDonald's back-heel flick went off the crossbar and in.
Bucknell had a good look a few minutes before the McDonald goal when Jesse Klug's volley skipped through traffic and just wide the left post. Later in the half, Bison keeper Mike Lansing made a save from close range on McDonald, just tipping the shot over the bar for a corner.
Bucknell saw a bit more of the ball in the second half, but the Eagles defense, ranked second in the Patriot League behind only the Bison, held off every challenge. The Bison had a 7-2 shot advantage in the second half.
With just 18 seconds left in the match, Josh Plump was knocked down just outside the box. The referee stopped the clock to back up the American wall, giving Bucknell one last shot. But CK Kumah's had strike barely skimmed over the bar on the last action of the day.
Both teams attempted 10 shots, while the Eagles had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks. Lansing finished with three saves for the Bison, one more than his counterpart Billy Knutsen.
This game was a rematch of the 2009 and 2010 Patriot League championship contests, both won by the Bison.
The All-Tournament Team will be announced following Sunday's championship game.
