Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Opens Home Slate Friday Night vs. Adelphi
9/13/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 13, 2012
Adelphi will be the guest for Friday's home opener, which kicks off at 7 p.m. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a free tee shirt. On Sunday, Bucknell and Albany get started at 1 p.m.
Members of the Bucknell soccer team's Class of 1998, who will be celebrating their 15-year reunion this year, have helped support the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Penn State. The Nittany Lions are also hosting Albany and Adelphi on the reverse days this weekend.
Bucknell has played five extremely tight games so far this fall. The Bison opened with a pair of ties against VCU and Butler at the VCU/Nike Classic, followed by a 2-1 double-overtime loss at Florida Gulf Coast. Then last weekend they knocked off a pair of regionally ranked, previously unbeaten in-state rivals in La Salle (2-1) and Saint Francis (Pa.) (1-0).
The Bison have been outshot 113-52 but have outscored their opponents 6-5 so far. Much of that shot disparity came in the opener against a terrific VCU team and also against Florida Gulf Coast, where Bucknell played with 10 men starting in the fourth minute of the game.
Senior co-captain Collin Costello has helped anchor a defensive unit that has held strong so far. Junior Mayowa Alli, sophomore Brian Ward, freshman Connor Willings and seniors Vinny Cinotti and Jermaine Jarrett have all contributed in the back four, playing in front of talented freshman goalkeeper Mike Lansing.
Lansing has already won a Patriot League Rookie of the Week and Goalkeeper of the Week award this season. He currently leads the Patriot League in saves per game (6.8) and save percentage (.872), and he ranks second in goals-against average (0.89). Lansing matched his season high witn nine saves in the win at La Salle last Friday, and he recorded his first career shutout on Sunday at Saint Francis.
Offensively, the Bison have one goal each from five different players (as well as one own goal). Junior Josh Butzke notched his first career goal in Sunday's 1-0 win. Classmate Joe Meyer also produced his first goal earlier this season, and the Bison also have goals from freshman Jesse Klug and seniors CK Kumah and Josh Plump.
Adelphi is 1-4 on the season, although that victory came against previously unbeaten Massachusetts in its last outing on Saturday. The Panthers won that one 1-0 in double overtime on James Diana's header in the 107th minute. Adelphi opened the year with losses against Iona (1-0), Fordham (1-0), High Point (3-1) and Radford (4-2).
Diana and Omar Edwards have two goals apiece, accounting for all four Panthers goals on the season. Steve Rivera has a pair of assists. Ahmad Salamah has played every minute in goal for Adelphi, logging 29 saves with nine goals against.
Bucknell and Adelphi have met twice previously, with both teams winning 1-0 at home in each of the last two seasons. In 2010 at Emmitt Field, the Bison won on Tommy McCabe's dramatic free kick with just 16 seconds left in regulation. Last year in Garden City, N.Y., Greg Mallia scored on a 35-yard shot in the 70th minute to give the Panthers the victory.
Bucknell and Albany will be meeting for the very first time in men's soccer. The Great Danes have dropped two straight matches to fall to 2-3 on the season. After beating Towson (3-2 OT) and Yale (2-0) in back-to-back contests, Albany fell to Fairleigh Dickinson (4-0) and Hofstra (2-1) last weekend. Albany opened the year with a 2-0 loss at Syracuse.
Anthony Rozzano and Brandon Wilson lead the team with two goals each, while Pomare Te Anau and Dan christiansen have one apiece. Tim Allen has played all but five minutes in goal and has 35 saves and eight allowed for an .814 save percentage.
The two games this weekend carry some added importance in that they are Bucknell's final two appearances before the start of Patriot League play. Next Saturday the Bison have a big rivalry match against Lehigh in Bethlehem at 7 p.m.
