Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Northern Kentucky
Bucknell Takes Mayor?s Cup Trophy after 1-0 OT Win over Northern Kentucky
9/6/2015 6:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer
ONEONTA, N.Y. – Jesse Klug did it again, scoring 4:36 into the second overtime period to lift Bucknell to a 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky and its third Mayor's Cup championship in as many appearances in the event. Klug also scored late in regulation on Friday night to help the Bison pull out a 2-2 draw with host Hartwick. After Bucknell topped Northern Kentucky, Hartwick and Saint Francis (Pa.) ended in a scoreless tie, giving the Bison the outright title with four points.
Led by Hall of Famer and All-American Scott Strasburg, Bucknell claimed the very first Mayor's Cup prior to the 1976 season, and the Bison also won it in 2009 behind another All-American, Conor O'Brien, who scored both goals in a pair of 1-0 victories over Hartwick and Syracuse.
This time it was Klug playing the role of offensive star with his pair of dramatic goals. Klug, who was named the Jim Lennox Offensive Most Valuable Player of the tournament, scored his 26th career goal to catch O'Brien for the No. 9 spot on Bucknell's all-time list.
Klug was not the only Bison honored after the tournament. Freshman center back Tyler Peterson, who played all 215 minutes this weekend and was terrific in Sunday's shutout of Northern Kentucky, was named the Garth Stam Defensive Most Valuable Player. Senior midfielder Chris Thorsheim and junior forward Justin Galiani joined Klug and Peterson on the All-Tournament Team.
Bucknell also swept the MVP honors in its last Mayor's Cup appearance in 2009, with O'Brien earning Offensive and goalkeeper Tommy Caso Defensive MVP awards.
Playing Northern Kentucky for the very first time, Bucknell finished with a 25-11 shot advantage and a 12-4 edge in corner kicks. Goalkeeper Clarke Fox stopped seven shots en route to his 10th career shutout. One of those saves came in extra time, when the Bison outshot the Norse 4-2.
Connor Willings set the winning goal in motion with a long throw-in from the left sideline into the box. Galiani went up high to head the ball across the front of the goal, and Klug was there to punch it in for his first career overtime tally.
“The Mayor's Cup is a big event in the Oneonta area, and we are very proud to be champions after two hard-fought overtime games,” said head coach Brendan Nash. “After a 25-11 shot advantage, we would have been disappointed not to win today. Jesse Klug was big for us twice this weekend.”
The Bison have now played three straight overtime games, and they will be back home next weekend to take on Saint Francis (Pa.) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Seton Hall on Sunday at 2 p.m.
