Men's Soccer Set Back at Army West Point

Saturday, October 20

West Point, N.Y.

7 p.m.

Bucknell University

6-5-3, 3-2-1PL

Army West Point

6-7-1, 3-3PL

Bucknell

ARMY

Matt Thorsheim

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

10/20/2018 9:54:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – A late comeback attempt by the Bison men's soccer came up short in the second half in a 3-1 win by Army on a chilly Saturday night in West Point.

The Black Knights controlled the early proceedings, with Keenan O' Shea forcing Ryan Ott into a low, sliding save from about 18 yards out nine minutes in.

Army would break the deadlock just three minutes later when a dangerous cross from the Black Knights was punched away by Ott. The cleared ball fell kindly to Grayson Naquin at the top of the box, who directed his shot low into the left side of the net to give Army an early 1-0 advantage.

The goal was the earliest goal allowed by Bucknell this season, and just the second goal allowed by the Bison in the first 20 minutes of play in 2018.

Army looked to double its lead in the 35^th minute, when a cross from the right side was met by an Army attacker from about six yards out. Ott made a huge save with his left hand on the low, bouncing header to palm away the dangerous chance and keep the Bucknell deficit at one.

With just 30 seconds left in the half, Bernie Wright swung in a dangerous in-swinging cross that nearly found a leaping Nick King in the box, but the ball was just over the head of the midfielder.

The cross would be the last good chance for either team to close the first half as the Black Knights went into the break with a 1-0 advantage.

The Black Knights held a 5-1 shot advantage after the first 45.

After a good start to the half from the Bison in which Thorsheim had his shot blocked at the top of the 18, the Black Knights found space in the box again in the 58^th minute, but a great step from Quinn Bredin blocked a potential second goal from Army's Keenan O' Shea.

However, Army broke through again just 40 seconds later when Ibrahim Seye got behind the Bucknell back line before skipping around Ott and converting into an open net.

The Bison responded with a goal of their own when Bredin clipped a well-weighted ball into the back post that was headed back across goal by Daniel Hallowell. Matt Thorsheim reacted quickest on the play and pushed his header into the roof of the net to cut the Army lead to 2-1 in the 67^th minute.

The goal lifted the Bison, as they managed to find another shot on target when Nick King met a cross from the right side in the 75^th minute, but his header was straight at Army goalkeeper Justin Stoll.

Hallowell continued to be involved since coming on as a substitute, cutting in from the right side and finding the feet of Michael Pavick at the top of the box, but Pavick's shot sailed high of the goal as the Bison continued to pressure the Black Knights in the 81^st minute.

Another set piece, this time for the Black Knights, proved integral after Army won a free kick from about 20 yards out after a counter-attack. The ensuing free kick was curled in by Keenan O' Shea in the 84^th minute to restore the two-goal lead for the Black Knights, who held on for the final minutes to earn a 3-1 win.

"Overall, we didn't play bad soccer tonight." Head Coach Brendan Nash said. "We made some mistakes tonight, and in Patriot League games, when you make mistakes, teams will take advantage of them. Now we have to look forward to Wednesday against Lehigh."

The Black Knights outshot the Bison 12-5 on the day, with a 7-2 advantage in shots on frame. The two teams combined for 35 fouls over the 90 minutes. The three goals conceded by the Bison was the first time Bucknell has allowed three goals in a match since a 3-2 loss to Fairleigh Dickinson Sept. 27, 2017.

Thorsheim's goal was his second of the season, and the seventh of his career for the Orange and Blue. The Bison were previously 4-1 when Thorsheim found the back of the net.

The Bison return to Emmitt Field on Wednesday to face Lehigh at 7 p.m.