Bucknell University
American
First-Half Penalty Kick Sends No. 20 American Past Bison, 1-0
10/11/2014 3:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- A 34th-minute penalty kick by Liam Robley was all 20th-ranked American needed in a 1-0 victory over Bucknell in Patriot League men's soccer action Saturday afternoon at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.
Saturday's result brings both teams to 2-2 in Patriot League play. American, which has been nationally ranked since knocking off No. 1 UCLA in early September, is now 8-3-1 overall, while the Bison fell to 6-7.
Bucknell finished with a 13-12 edge in shot, but American limited the Bison to only a few quality scoring chances. Late in the first half, Eagles defender Christian Robbs booted a ball out of the goal mouth after Connor Willings' long throw-in created a scramble in the box.
In the 56th minute, Austin Lenart volleyed a pass from the end line to the left of the goal in the direction of Jonathan Grad, who would have had a wide-open look had Jake Weinreb not stuck out a foot at the last second to break up the play.
Bucknell sent extra men forward in the late stages to try to find an equalizer, but the American defense was up to the task. The Bison earned a corner kick with 11 seconds to play, but a deflected header from Justin Galiani was easily picked off at the near post by keeper Dylan Hobert.
American's goal came at the 33:46 mark, when a penalty was awarded after a Bison player got tangled up and toppled over an Eagles forward. The left-footed Robley placed his PK inside the right post for his third goal of the season.
"I've been around the Patriot League a long time and seen so many of these 1-0 games that could go either way," said head coach Brendan Nash. "This one did not go our way today. Now we have some time to regroup and get healthy for Navy next week."
Despite conceding the penalty, Bucknell's defense was also strong for the majority of the match. Clarke Fox made his second straight start in goal and tallied five saves. Hobert had six stops for the Eagles, who avenged a loss to the Bison at Emmitt Field in last year's Patriot League Tournament.
Bucknell will play its next three games on the road, starting with a date with Navy in Annapolis next Saturday at 7 p.m.
