Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bison, Crusaders Trade PKs in 1-1 Draw
10/3/2015 6:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – On a cold, wet day at Emmitt Field, Bucknell's Chris Thorsheim and Holy Cross' Justin Carfora each scored on second-half penalty kicks, and Crusaders goalkeeper Kevin Wright made two great saves in overtime to preserve a 1-1 tie. The Bison have now played six overtime games in 10 outings this season and are now 3-3-4 overall and 0-0-2 in the Patriot League. Holy Cross moved to 3-3-3 on the season and 1-0-1 in league play.
It was a tense, physical affair throughout, as the two teams were whistled for a combined 33 fouls, including one each way that came inside the penalty area.
Just over a minute into the second half, Thorsheim slipped a perfect through ball to Dan Bank, who toppled over a sliding defender in the box. Thorsheim then slotted home the penalty kick, making him a perfect 8-for-8 from the spot in his career. It was his team-leading fifth goal of the season and the 17th of his career.
Holy Cross brought the game back to level terms in the 73rd minute, when Nicholas Cestaro was pulled down in a scramble for the ball near the end line to the left of the goal. Bison keeper Mike Lansing guessed correctly on Carfora's penalty kick, but he just missed getting a hand on the ball with a dive to his left.
Bucknell outshot Holy Cross 20-14 in the game and 5-1 in the overtime periods. The Bison had four other great chances to score, and Thorsheim was in the middle of all of them. In the 33rd minute he played Justin Galiani in for a clean breakaway, but Galiani pulled his shot wide to the right with Wright charging out from his line.
In the 50th minute, not long after the Bison had just taken the lead, Thorsheim and Sebastiaan Blickman had a two-on-one break, and Blickman's shot rang the left post.
Wright's two biggest and best saves came in overtime. With 30 seconds left in the first OT period, Thorsheim drove a perfect pass from the left touch line to Blickman at the top of the 18, but Blickman's low, left-footed drive was palmed aside by Wright. In the second overtime period, Bucknell's Connor Willings had a goal waved off on an offside call after another nifty pass from Thorsheim, and then with 3:40 remaining Andrew Leischner one-timed Austin Lenart's delivery at the top of the box, but Wright reached up high to tip the shot over the crossbar.
Wright finished with five saves, while Lansing had three for Bucknell. Lansing's best stop of the day came in the opening moments of the match. Just 2:48 into the game he was booked for a mistimed tackle well out of his goal area. Bucknell momentarily cleared the ensuing free kick, but the ball fell to Matt Villano, whose low shot ticketed for the left post required a diving save by Lansing.
“I thought it was an evenly played match,” said head coach Brendan Nash. “Both penalties were probably deserved. Their keeper made some big saves in overtime, and we couldn't capitalize on a few good chances. Now we have to quickly regroup for a mid-week game at Lafayette.”
Bucknell has now tied three straight games for the first time in team history. It is also the first time in 25 seasons in the Patriot League that the Bison have drawn their first two conference games of the year.
Bucknell visits Lafayette on Wednesday at 7 p.m., followed by a home contest with Colgate next Saturday at 3 p.m.
