Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
La Salle
Two Quick Goals Lift Bison Men's Soccer Team to 2-1 Win at La Salle
9/7/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- CK Kumah and Josh Plump scored 42 seconds apart early in the second half to lift the Bucknell men's soccer team to its first victory of the season, 2-1 over previously unbeaten La Salle on Friday night at McCarthy Stadium. The Bison are now 1-1-2 after playing their first non-overtime game of the year, while the Explorers fell to 3-1.
It was a back-and-forth affair on La Salle's small pitch, as the two teams combined for 39 shots, including 23 by the Explorers. Bison freshman goalkeeper Mike Lansing continued his strong start with nine saves, including three with a high degree of difficulty.
"We played a very confident 3-0 team on the road and found a way to come home with a win, so we could not be more pleased," said coach Brendan Nash after the contest. "This is a very tough place to play, and we can take a lot of positives away from this game. We have a lot to build on, and we will need to continue to progress with another regionally ranked opponent (Saint Francis) coming up on Sunday."
It was a scoreless game into the 57th minute, when the Bison final broke through against La Salle keeper John McCarthy. The sequence began with a corner kick that was cleared back out to Kumah. He passed to Brendan Burgdorf and then got the ball back before ripping a shot inside the far post for his first goal of the season.
A brilliant individual play by Plump less than a minute later gave the Bison a 2-0 lead. Plump dribbled through four defenders coming in from the sideline and eventually slotted home his first goal of the year.
The insurance marker proved to be important when La Salle pulled within one in the 69th minute. The Explorers had begun to push players forward and they scored in transition, with Nick Becker finishing a pass from Kameron Teel.
The Bison held strong over the final 21 minutes, avoiding overtime after playing a combined 325 minutes over their first three games of the season.
Bucknell visits Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday at 4 p.m. The Red Flash are 2-0-2 on the season after defeating Howard 1-0 on Friday night, and they are unbeaten in their last 10 games dating back to last season.
