Men's Soccer Drops 1-0 Decision to Lafayette on Saturday

Saturday, March 6

Williamsport, Pa.

1 p.m.

Bucknell University

0-1, 0-1PL

Lafayette

1-0, 1-0PL

LAFAYETTE

Bucknell

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

Men's Soccer Drops 1-0 Decision to Lafayette on Saturday

3/6/2021 6:19:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Bucknell University men's soccer team fell 1-0 to visiting Lafayette in a cold and windy day of soccer as the two teams opened up their Patriot League season. Lafayette's Martin Ssessanga broke the deadlock between the two teams in the 54^th minute, as the Leopards outshot the Bison 16-0 on the day.

Bucknell, playing on the campus of Penn College, featured a young starting lineup of seven sophomores or first years, including four Bison who were making their collegiate debuts in Colin Eifert, Collin Murphy, Jordan Miller, and goalkeeper Bennett Schwartz.

Lafayette controlled much of the possession in the early goings, but the Bison center back pairing of Eifert and Miller limited the number of clear cut chances by the Leopards early on. Lafayette's clearest chance of the first half came when Hale Lombard of the Leopards met a header near the penalty spot that he flicked on target, but Schwartz was well-positioned for a routine save as the two teams went into halftime tied at zero.

Lafayette managed a few more shots to open the second half, before finally finding the breakthrough in the 54^th minute when Ssessanga curled in a ball from the left side of the field near the corner of the penalty box. The ball bounced dangerously near the penalty spot towards an onrushing Marcos Kitromilides, but bounced untouched into the lower corner of the Bucknell net.

The Bison pushed forward in the closing minutes of the second half, winning a corner kick late on, and getting the ball into the box on numerous occasions. However, Bucknell couldn't manage a clear look on target as it fell 1-0.

Schwartz made three saves in the defeat in his first collegiate appearance. The Bison will resume their conference slate with another home game when it faces Loyola (Md.) next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.