Tuesday, October 18
Syracuse, N.Y.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
2-12-0, 1-5-0
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at
2
Syracuse
12-2-1, 5-1-0
1
2
F
Bucknell
1
0
1
Syracuse
1
1
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Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Men’s Soccer Edged by No. 4 Syracuse, 2-1
10/18/2022 10:17:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Bucknell men's soccer team gave 4th-ranked Syracuse all it could handle on Tuesday night, but two goals from Lavonte Johnson canceled a brilliant first career goal from Bison freshman Charlie Holmes, and the Orange prevailed 2-1 at chilly SU Soccer Stadium.
Bucknell went toe-to-toe with a Syracuse side that is now 12-2-1 on the season and has a 5-1 record against ranked teams, including a road win over then-No. 1 Clemson last month. Just last week, the Orange handled Loyola, one of the top teams in the Patriot League, by a 6-1 scoreline, but some brave defending along with 12 big saves from rookie goalkeeper Freddie Lapworth kept Bucknell in the match for the full 90 minutes.
"Syracuse is one of the best and hottest teams in the country right now, but I thought we played with a sense of oneness and focus and made it a good battle," said head coach Dave Brandt, who started six freshmen and used two more rookies off the bench. "We had a good plan to neutralize some of what they do well, but then the guys just fought hard. As dangerous as he's been throughout the year, Charlie was overdue for a goal and it was great to see him get one tonight."
The Bison found themselves trailing only 8:07 into the match, when Jackson Glenn played a ball over the top, and Johnson chipped the bouncing ball over the head of the charging Lapworth and into the open net.
Less than four minutes later, however, Bucknell was back on level terms. Holmes, who formed an all-freshman front three with Cade McGrath and first-time starter Zane Domsohn, used a great first touch to corral Eddie Perez-Pelaez's hard diagonal pass. Holmes turned his defender inside before swiveling back to the right, and then he curled a shot off the right post and in for his first collegiate tally.
Just past the half-hour mark the Bison had another decent look from their lone corner kick of the night. The service was only half-cleared to Waldemar Kattrup, whose blast from the center of the area was blocked by a Syracuse defender in front. Two minutes later, Holmes set up Nick Prime for a one-timer from the top of the box, but the low shot was right at keeper Russell Shealy.
Meanwhile, Lapworth was busy at the other end of the pitch. He parried away a couple of hard shots from Johnson, who put nine of his 10 attempts on target. With four minutes left in the half, Lapworth came all the way out to the edge of the 18 and stretched high to reject a shot from Curt Calov, and then he used his feet to smother a follow-up attempt by Nathan Opoku.
Syracuse turned up the pressure in the second half, but the Bison threw bodies in front of shots time and again to keep the game tied. In the 59th minute, Opoku, the ACC scoring leader, received a centering feed from Johnson and had a gaping net in front of him, but Jack Roberto scurried back into the goal and made a terrific kick save. The ball fell to Noah Singlemann in the center of the area, but Matthew Owusu turned away his hard shot with his chest.
The Orange finally found their go-ahead goal in the 64th minute. Christian Curti found Johnson in a seam between two defenders, and the Seattle transfer was able to score through a charging Lapworth for his seventh goal of the season.
In the 75th minute, Giona Leibold was tripped in the box and the penalty was given. Johnson stepped up to the spot looking for his hat trick, but Lapworth stood his ground and made the save as Johnson rolled a shot at the center of goal.
Bucknell's best chance at a late equalizer came in the 85th minute after Holmes was fouled just outside the Syracuse box. Mo Tall, who has scored twice on direct free kicks this season, put his 27-yard attempt into the wall, and the Orange saw out the final four minutes.
Lapworth finished with a career-high 12 saves, which were the most by a Bucknell goalkeeper in more than 17 years. The last Bison netminder to stop at least 12 shots was Adam Edwards, who tallied 14 saves in a 3-0 loss to Towson in a tournament at James Madison on Sept. 4, 2005.
Syracuse finished with a 29-8 shot advantage. The Orange came into the game ranked fifth nationally in team goals-against average at 0.50 and eighth nationally in goal differential at +22. Bucknell became only the seventh team to score against Syracuse in its 15 matches this season.
Bucknell has three games remaining in the regular season, all of them against Patriot League opponents. Next up is Colgate at home on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Bucknell went toe-to-toe with a Syracuse side that is now 12-2-1 on the season and has a 5-1 record against ranked teams, including a road win over then-No. 1 Clemson last month. Just last week, the Orange handled Loyola, one of the top teams in the Patriot League, by a 6-1 scoreline, but some brave defending along with 12 big saves from rookie goalkeeper Freddie Lapworth kept Bucknell in the match for the full 90 minutes.
"Syracuse is one of the best and hottest teams in the country right now, but I thought we played with a sense of oneness and focus and made it a good battle," said head coach Dave Brandt, who started six freshmen and used two more rookies off the bench. "We had a good plan to neutralize some of what they do well, but then the guys just fought hard. As dangerous as he's been throughout the year, Charlie was overdue for a goal and it was great to see him get one tonight."
The Bison found themselves trailing only 8:07 into the match, when Jackson Glenn played a ball over the top, and Johnson chipped the bouncing ball over the head of the charging Lapworth and into the open net.
Less than four minutes later, however, Bucknell was back on level terms. Holmes, who formed an all-freshman front three with Cade McGrath and first-time starter Zane Domsohn, used a great first touch to corral Eddie Perez-Pelaez's hard diagonal pass. Holmes turned his defender inside before swiveling back to the right, and then he curled a shot off the right post and in for his first collegiate tally.
Just past the half-hour mark the Bison had another decent look from their lone corner kick of the night. The service was only half-cleared to Waldemar Kattrup, whose blast from the center of the area was blocked by a Syracuse defender in front. Two minutes later, Holmes set up Nick Prime for a one-timer from the top of the box, but the low shot was right at keeper Russell Shealy.
Meanwhile, Lapworth was busy at the other end of the pitch. He parried away a couple of hard shots from Johnson, who put nine of his 10 attempts on target. With four minutes left in the half, Lapworth came all the way out to the edge of the 18 and stretched high to reject a shot from Curt Calov, and then he used his feet to smother a follow-up attempt by Nathan Opoku.
Syracuse turned up the pressure in the second half, but the Bison threw bodies in front of shots time and again to keep the game tied. In the 59th minute, Opoku, the ACC scoring leader, received a centering feed from Johnson and had a gaping net in front of him, but Jack Roberto scurried back into the goal and made a terrific kick save. The ball fell to Noah Singlemann in the center of the area, but Matthew Owusu turned away his hard shot with his chest.
The Orange finally found their go-ahead goal in the 64th minute. Christian Curti found Johnson in a seam between two defenders, and the Seattle transfer was able to score through a charging Lapworth for his seventh goal of the season.
In the 75th minute, Giona Leibold was tripped in the box and the penalty was given. Johnson stepped up to the spot looking for his hat trick, but Lapworth stood his ground and made the save as Johnson rolled a shot at the center of goal.
Bucknell's best chance at a late equalizer came in the 85th minute after Holmes was fouled just outside the Syracuse box. Mo Tall, who has scored twice on direct free kicks this season, put his 27-yard attempt into the wall, and the Orange saw out the final four minutes.
Lapworth finished with a career-high 12 saves, which were the most by a Bucknell goalkeeper in more than 17 years. The last Bison netminder to stop at least 12 shots was Adam Edwards, who tallied 14 saves in a 3-0 loss to Towson in a tournament at James Madison on Sept. 4, 2005.
Syracuse finished with a 29-8 shot advantage. The Orange came into the game ranked fifth nationally in team goals-against average at 0.50 and eighth nationally in goal differential at +22. Bucknell became only the seventh team to score against Syracuse in its 15 matches this season.
Bucknell has three games remaining in the regular season, all of them against Patriot League opponents. Next up is Colgate at home on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
BUCKNELL
CUSE
Goals
1
2
Shots
8
29
Shots on Goal
3
15
Saves
13
2
Corners
1
11
Fouls
6
6
Scoring Plays
Johnson, Levonte (6)
Assisted By: Glenn, Jackson
GOAL by CUSE Johnson, Levonte (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Glenn, Jackson, goal number 6 for season.
8:07
Holmes, Charlie (1)
GOAL by BUCKNELL Holmes, Charlie, goal number 1 for season.
12:00
Johnson, Levonte (7)
Assisted By: Curti, Christian
GOAL by CUSE Johnson, Levonte, Assist by Curti, Christian, goal number 7 for season.
63:44
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
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