Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Visits Florida Gulf Coast Sunday
8/30/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 30, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell men's soccer team continues its road-intensive early season schedule when it travels to Fort Myers, Fla., on Sunday for its first-ever meeting with defending Atlantic Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
Bucknell opened the season with a pair of 1-1 draws last weekend at the VCU/Nike Classic. Freshman Jesse Klug scored 18 minutes into the season opener against a terrific VCU squad, but the Rams tied it in the 81st minute. On Sunday it was the Bison who conceded a first-half goal against Butler, only to get even in the second half, as a Mayowa Alli deep throw-in deflected off a defender into the net.
Patriot League Rookie of the Week Mike Lansing was terrific in goal on opening weekend, making 14 saves with just the two goals against in 220 minutes of action. Lansing had nine saves against VCU, including four in overtime. Lansing, Alli and Klug were all named to the All-Tournament Team at VCU.
Florida Gulf Coast has captured each of the last two Atlantic Sun regular-season titles, and last year the Eagles advanced to the NCAA Tournament in their first year of eligibility. FGCU has a very difficult non-league schedule, with six nationally ranked teams in its first nine games. The Eagles have already played two of those foes, falling 4-0 at No. 2 Akron last Friday and 1-0 at No. 16 Georgetown on Monday.
FCGU was picked a close second in this year's Atlantic Sun preseason poll, trailing only East Tennessee State. Sophomore forward Xavier Silva, senior midfielder Deion Jones and sophomore back Federico Crespo were all named to the Atlantic Sun Preseason All-Conference Team. Silva, last year's A-Sun Freshman of the Year, has yet to play in 2012 due to injury.
Bucknell plays its first five games of the season on the road. Following the Florida Gulf Coast match, the Bison will play a pair of in-state rivals the following weekend, visiting La Salle on Friday and Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday. The home opener will be Friday, Sept. 14 against Adelphi at 7 p.m.
