Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Lansing Named Patriot League Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
8/27/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 27, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Freshman goalkeeper Mike Lansing (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) had a very strong opening weekend for the Bucknell men's soccer team, and he was rewarded Monday with Brine Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors. Lansing totaled 14 saves with only two goals against in a pair of 1-1 draws with Virginia Commonwealth and Butler at the VCU/Nike Classic.
Lansing earned All-Tournament honors at VCU as well. He began his career with a nine-save performance in a 1-1 draw against a very good VCU side. The Rams were picked third in the Atlantic-10 preseason poll, behind only 2011 national runner-up Charlotte and two-time defending league champion Xavier.
VCU pumped 28 shots toward the Bucknell net and only one found its way past Lansing. Of his nine saves, four were highlight-reel quality, and four came in sudden-death overtime. The biggest of those was a remarkable one-handed diving stop of a hard shot with four minutes left in the second overtime period.
Lansing added five more saves against Butler on Sunday afternoon. That gives him a 0.82 goals-against average and an .875 save percentage in 220 minutes this season.
Lansing was not the only Bison newcomer to make an impact over the weekend. Freshman forward Jesse Klug potted his first collegiate goal just 18 minutes into his debut, staking Bucknell to a 1-0 lead at VCU. Klug also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Center midfielder Chris Thorsheim started both games and played 208 of a possible 220 minutes. First-year defender Connor Willings saw brief action against VCU, but then played 85 minutes against Butler.
The Bison are back in action on Sunday at Florida Gulf Coast at 1 p.m.
