Jordan Miller’s Golden Goal Sends Men’s Soccer Past Lehigh, 1-0

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – On a night when Bucknell struggled to generate many scoring chances, the young defense was rock-solid for 94 minutes, and then one of the Patriot League's hottest goal-producers found his moment. Jordan Miller netted his league-leading sixth goal of the season, all coming in the last seven games, to send the Bison home with a 1-0 victory over Lehigh on Wednesday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex.

Senior co-captain Patrick O'Hara's hustle play on the end line set the winning goal in motion, and it lifted the Bison to 1-1-1 in Patriot League play and 3-5-1 overall.

Matthew Owusu played a long ball over the top that was nodded forward by Sebastian Paz but appeared to be headed over the end line. O'Hara tracked it down at the last second, however, then veered back toward the left touchline and lofted a high cross to the top center of the box, where Eddie Perez-Pelaez played a header directly to Miller in the left side of the area. Miller chested it down, and despite being sandwiched by two Lehigh defenders managed to poke a shot past goalkeeper Blake Koski.

Lehigh, which fell to 0-8-1 overall and 0-3-0 in the Patriot League, had a golden opportunity to win the game in the final 10 seconds of regulation, but 2019 All-American and Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Josh Luchini pulled a shot wide from close range. Bucknell took advantage of that break and won it early in extra time.

"We are very happy to come away with a win on the road in the Patriot League," said interim head coach Matt Brown. "Our young back line is showing improvement every time we play. They are learning and maturing, and I thought tonight was a very mature defensive performance. I'm pleased for [goalkeeper] Bennett Schwartz, who was very solid and earned his second clean sheet."

That back four, which features two freshmen and a sophomore, limited Lehigh to eight total shots and only two on target. Freshmen Aidan Lawlor and Gabe Dahlin, sophomore MJ Kuczura and senior Colin Eifert, with the sophomore Owusu sitting in front of them in a holding midfield position, were rock solid all night.

The Bison paid particular mind to Luchini, who had a hat trick in Lehigh's 4-1 win in Bethlehem just last March. Beyond his one good chance late in regulation, Luchini was held to just one other shot.

Bucknell's best scoring chance in regulation came with 16 minutes to play. Kuszura got forward from his right back position and squared a ball to his left to O'Hara, whose firm header was saved at the near post by Koski.

Schwartz finished with two saves, the first of which was a tricky one on a low skimmed free kick through traffic by Euan Forrest in the 57th minute.

For the Bison, it was an important first Patriot League win, coming on the heels of a tough 2-1 loss to Army on Saturday. Now with four points from three league games, Bucknell moved up three spots into a tie for fourth place in the table.

"Winning tonight keeps us in the pack, and the lads recognize that," said Brown. "I thought in the Army game we generally played well, but we switched off in a couple of key moments. Tonight we were switched on from start to finish, and that was the difference."

Bucknell will be back home on Saturday against defending-champion American at 12 p.m. The game will air live on ESPN+.

Gallery: (9-29-2021) Men's Soccer at Lehigh

Jordan Miller’s Golden Goal Sends Men’s Soccer Past Lehigh, 1-0

Players Mentioned

Gabe Dahlin

Colin Eifert

MJ Kuczura

Aidan Lawlor

Jordan Miller

Patrick O'Hara

Matthew Owusu

Sebastian Paz

Eddie Perez-Pelaez

Bennett Schwartz