Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Concludes Long Road Trip with Pair of Matches vs. Unbeaten Foes
9/6/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Bucknell-La Salle Webcast
Bucknell-La Salle Live Stats
Bucknell-Saint Francis Live Stats
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The schedule says that the Bucknell men's soccer team has played three games in 2012, but in reality the Bison have played more than three-and-a-half, as each match so far has gone into overtime. After opening with a pair of 1-1 draws at the VCU/Nike Classic to start the season, they suffered a tough 2-1 double-OT setback at Florida Gulf Coast last Sunday. Now, Bucknell hits the road again for a pair of matches against undefeated in-state rivals La Salle and Saint Francis (Pa.) this weekend.
The Bison have netted one goal in each game so far, including Joe Meyer's dramatic equalizer in the 84th minute at Florida Gulf Coast. Meyer's first collegiate tally came shorthanded, as Bucknell had been playing with 10 men since a fourth-minute red card.
Freshman goalkeeper Mike Lansing has been impressive so far, compiling 20 saves in three games. He has an .833 save percentage and a 1.11 goals-against average. Lansing leads the Patriot League in total saves and save percentage, and he ranks third in GAA.
On Friday the Bison will be taking on a La Salle team that is flying high after a 3-0 start. After opening the campaign with a 3-2 overtime win over Drexel, the Explorers posted back-to-back shutouts against Loyola (Md.) and Mount St. Mary's last weekend. The Loyola win also came in overtime, this one on the road.
Jason Plumhoff has a goal in each game so far for La Salle, including the game-winners in each of the last two contests. Two of Plumhoff's three goals have come on penalty kicks, the latter coming in overtime at Loyola. John McCarthy has been strong in goal, producing an .889 save percentage with 16 saves and only two goals against.
Bucknell is 7-2-3 all-time against the Explorers. The first meeting came in the 1974 East Coast Conference championship game, when the Bison won 2-1 to claim the title. Three days later they beat Penn State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. La Salle's wins over Bucknell came in 1982 and 2004. The Bison are 4-0-3 against the Explorers since 2005, including a 2-1 overtime win at Emmitt Field last season. Mayowa Alli scored both goals in that game, the latter coming on a corner kick header 48 seconds into extra time.
Sunday's opponent, Saint Francis, is also unbeaten on the season at 1-0-2 against a tough schedule. The Red Flash have sandwiched draws with Loyola (0-0) and Pittsburgh (1-1) around a 1-0 win at Cincinnati last week.
Nick Kolarac has scored both of Saint Francis' goals so far. He tallied in the 37th minute of a lightning-delayed game against Pitt, and his 30-yard strike on a first-half free kick gave them a 1-0 win over Cincinnati. Daniel Valcicak has played every minute in goal so far and has 16 saves with only one goal allowed for a microscopic 0.29 GAA.
One of Bucknell's best performances of last season came at home against Saint Francis. The Bison scored three first-half goals and won 4-1. Alli, Pat Plourde, Ryan Sappington and Josh Plump all scored against a Red Flash squad that had not allowed a goal all season coming in.
That victory made Bucknell 8-4-2 all-time against Saint Francis. The last time the two teams met in Loretto was in 2010, but the game was abandoned due to severe thunderstorms after 22 minutes with the Bison leading 1-0.
Following the two away tests this weekend, the Bison come home next Friday to face Adelphi at 7 p.m. in the first game of the Class of '98 Invitational. The Bison will also host Albany on Sunday at 1 p.m. The first 500 fans through the gates on Friday will receive a free tee shirt.
