Friday, August 30
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
0-1
1
vs
2
Fairleigh Dickinson
1-0
1
2
F
Fairleigh Dickinson
1
1
2
Bucknell
0
1
1
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Men's Soccer Drops Season Opener to Fairleigh Dickinson
8/30/2019 10:25:00 PM | Men's Soccer
LEWISBURG, PA. – A well-taken curling shot from Fairleigh Dickinson's Jared Dillon from about 25 yards out broke a 1-1 deadlock as the Knights held on for a 2-1 win over Bucknell in the season opener for both teams on Friday night at Emmitt Field. The goal came with just six minutes to go in the contest.
The 2019 season began for both teams in a battle of the midfield, with neither team creating a clear-cut opportunity until the Knights opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Nark Miranda laid a square pass from the left side of the box to an onrushing Diego Arribas, who slotted his low shot into the bottom corner to give FDU a 1-0 lead.
The Bison's best opportunity in the early goings came after Jameson Railey, one of four freshmen to start the game for the Bison, struck a hard shot with his left foot from outside the penalty area that was just over the far corner of the crossbar a minute before FDU's opening goal.
FDU threatened to double its lead in the 32nd minute on a headed effort by Arribas, but Witmer was up to the challenge, making a leaping save to parry the shot over the crossbar.
The second period started much like the first half ended, with Witmer making another save, this time to deny Miranda. Mo Tall, who was active on the flank all game, tried to sneak in a shot from a tight angle in the 51st minute, but the low shot was stopped by FDU keeper Jahmali White.
The Knights pressed for a second goal after the shot by Tall, with Dillon forcing another close-range save from Witmer in the 66th.
However, the Bison found the equalizing goal after left back Bernie Wright found space on the flank before clipping a well-weighted ball to the back post that found the head of 6'3 freshman forward Eddie Perez-Pelaez. Perez-Pelaez leaped over an FDU defender and drove his header downwards into the lower corner for a goal in his collegiate debut.
The game opened up during the waning minutes, with both teams finding space to operate as the two sides pushed for the winning goal.
The deciding effort came in the 84th minute on the curling effort from Dillon. Daniel Lasarte played in Dillon on a diagonal run before the forward found space near the corner of the penalty area to unleash a powerful strike that found the upper corner.
Witmer was on hand once again in the 86th, preventing Dillon from getting a second goal from close range, but Bucknell couldn't conjure a late comeback as it fell, 2-1.
The Bison managed five shots on goal to FDU's seven.
Bucknell will take on Canisius on the road on Sunday in a rematch of last season's 0-0 draw in Lewisburg.
Gallery: (8/29/2019) Men's Soccer vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
The 2019 season began for both teams in a battle of the midfield, with neither team creating a clear-cut opportunity until the Knights opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Nark Miranda laid a square pass from the left side of the box to an onrushing Diego Arribas, who slotted his low shot into the bottom corner to give FDU a 1-0 lead.
The Bison's best opportunity in the early goings came after Jameson Railey, one of four freshmen to start the game for the Bison, struck a hard shot with his left foot from outside the penalty area that was just over the far corner of the crossbar a minute before FDU's opening goal.
FDU threatened to double its lead in the 32nd minute on a headed effort by Arribas, but Witmer was up to the challenge, making a leaping save to parry the shot over the crossbar.
The second period started much like the first half ended, with Witmer making another save, this time to deny Miranda. Mo Tall, who was active on the flank all game, tried to sneak in a shot from a tight angle in the 51st minute, but the low shot was stopped by FDU keeper Jahmali White.
The Knights pressed for a second goal after the shot by Tall, with Dillon forcing another close-range save from Witmer in the 66th.
However, the Bison found the equalizing goal after left back Bernie Wright found space on the flank before clipping a well-weighted ball to the back post that found the head of 6'3 freshman forward Eddie Perez-Pelaez. Perez-Pelaez leaped over an FDU defender and drove his header downwards into the lower corner for a goal in his collegiate debut.
The game opened up during the waning minutes, with both teams finding space to operate as the two sides pushed for the winning goal.
The deciding effort came in the 84th minute on the curling effort from Dillon. Daniel Lasarte played in Dillon on a diagonal run before the forward found space near the corner of the penalty area to unleash a powerful strike that found the upper corner.
Witmer was on hand once again in the 86th, preventing Dillon from getting a second goal from close range, but Bucknell couldn't conjure a late comeback as it fell, 2-1.
The Bison managed five shots on goal to FDU's seven.
Bucknell will take on Canisius on the road on Sunday in a rematch of last season's 0-0 draw in Lewisburg.
Team Stats
FDU
BUCKNELL
Goals
2
1
Shots
12
9
Shots on Goal
7
5
Saves
4
5
Corners
2
2
Fouls
14
11
Scoring Plays
Arribas, Diego (1)
Assisted By: Miranda, Nark
Shot from top of box into lower corner g
20:57
Perez-Pelaez, Eddie (1)
Assisted By: Wright, Bernie
Cross from left side nodded in at back p
73:24
Dillon, Jared (1)
Assisted By: Lasarte, Daniel
Curling shot from about 25 yards out upp
83:48
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
D
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