Two First-Half Goals Lift St. Bonaventure Past Bucknell Men’s Soccer, 2-0

OLEAN, N.Y. – Rafael Pereira scored in the 22nd minute and then assisted on Luca Nicastro's goal just 66 seconds later, sending St. Bonaventure to a 2-0 victory over visiting Bucknell on Friday night at the Marra Athletic Fields.

The Bison (0-3) possessed the ball for 65 percent of the match and finished with a 14-9 shot advantage, but St. Bonaventure (1-2) scored on its only two shots on frame.

After the Bison saw almost all of the ball in the opening 20 minutes, they were stung by the two quick strikes from the Bonnies. Pereira found space down the left flank and drove his defender back to the edge of the 18 before curling a well-placed shot inside the right post.

Pereira also set the next sequence in motion when he got to the end line before pulling a pass back to Peter Massaquoi in the center of the area. Massaquoi slipped a pass to Nicastro, who rolled the ball into the netting for a 2-0 margin.

Freshmen Marco Valentic and Charlie Holmes had some bright moments for the Bison. Valentic led the team with four shots, including a first-half drive from the top of the box that was blocked by a defender before pinballing around.

Holmes had two good looks at goal in the second half, including a turning shot in the 83rd minute that just flashed wide.

St. Bonaventure goalkeeper Jules Dechert recorded five saves, the best coming on a diving parry of Eddie Perez-Pelaez's free kick in the 37th minute.

After starting the season with three straight road fixtures, the Bison will play their next four and seven of their next eight at home. Saint Peter's comes to Lewisburg for the home opener on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Two First-Half Goals Lift St. Bonaventure Past Bucknell Men’s Soccer, 2-0

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Team Stats

Marco Valentic

Charlie Holmes

Sebastian Paz

Cade McGrath

Players Mentioned

Charlie Holmes

Eddie Perez-Pelaez

Marco Valentic

Players Mentioned

Charlie Holmes

Eddie Perez-Pelaez

Marco Valentic