Wednesday, September 28
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
2-7-0, 1-2-0PL
2
vs
1
Lehigh
2-5-1, 1-2-0PL
1
2
F
Lehigh
0
1
1
Bucknell
1
1
2
Photo by: Ben Popko
Men’s Soccer Beats Lehigh 2-1 on Goal in 84th Minute from Sebastian Paz
9/28/2022 10:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Sebastian Paz could not have picked a better time to score his first goal of the season. His strike in the 84th minute followed by some important defending in the final minute gave Bucknell a 2-1 win over Lehigh and three much-needed points on Wednesday night at Emmitt Field.
Mo Tall also scored for the Bison, who shook a four-game losing streak and improved to 1-2 in Patriot League play with another home game coming up on Saturday against Lafayette. Lehigh is also 1-2 in league play, with the victory a 4-0 rout of American last week.
This was perhaps Bucknell's most complete performance of the season, with a season-high 22 shot attempts in the attacking end to go along with some solid defensive work in front of freshman goalkeeper Freddie Lapworth, who earned the victory in his collegiate debut.
"These were obviously an important three points, and there are a lot of games still in front of us," said head coach Dave Brandt. "Great goal by Sebastian Paz, and we'll take this one and try to keep building."
Bucknell was dangerous on Tall's set pieces in the first half and nearly scored the opening goal on three of them in a span of less than seven minutes. In the 14th minute of the match, the Bison earned a free kick near the end line, and Tall's service to Cade McGrath was headed just over the bar.
Not even two minutes later the Bison drew another foul in a dangerous area, and this time it was MJ Kuczura just missing the left post with a sliding shot. In the 20th minute, Tall's corner kick led to a flurry inside the 6-yard box. The ball never quite crossed the goal line, and Bucknell's appeals for a hand ball on a fallen Lehigh defender right on the line were denied.
Tall and the Bison finally did cash in 90 seconds later. This time it was Charlie Holmes who won a free kick two yards outside the box, and Tall stepped up and buried the free kick inside the right post. Tall has two goals this season, both coming on direct free kicks. The other was an 84th-minute game-winner against Saint Peter's on Sept. 4.
The only blemish on Lapworth and the Bison defense came in the 52nd minute, when Jack Sarkos slammed in a header from point-blank range off a nice cross from the right side from Jason Pynadath.
The Bison responded well after conceding the goal and held possession in the Lehigh end for much of the remainder of the match. Mountain Hawks keeper Ryan Gross made four saves to keep it level, but Bucknell found its breakthrough with just 6:46 remaining.
Kuczura tracked down a cross-field pass from Tall near the right touchline and found McGrath, who turned infield and slipped a perfect ball through to Paz. The junior striker's first touch was a blast into the back of the net from the right side of the area.
Paz has a flair for the dramatic, as his most recent goal was an 87th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Binghamton last season.
Lehigh had a final push, however, and earned a free kick and two corner kicks in the closing minutes. Perry Kingson had the ball fall to him on the second corner, but his shot sailed over the bar. The Mountain Hawks tried one last counter in the final 10 seconds, and Lapworth had to dive off his line to corral a cross in from Pynadath as the horn sounded.
Bucknell outshot Lehigh 11-2 in the second half and 22-9 overall. Lehigh had a 7-5 advantage in corner kicks. Lapworth made four saves in his first collegiate outing, while Gross was credited with five for Lehigh.
Lafayette visits Emmitt Field on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Leopards are 1-1-1 in Patriot League play after falling 1-0 at home to Navy on Wednesday.
Mo Tall also scored for the Bison, who shook a four-game losing streak and improved to 1-2 in Patriot League play with another home game coming up on Saturday against Lafayette. Lehigh is also 1-2 in league play, with the victory a 4-0 rout of American last week.
This was perhaps Bucknell's most complete performance of the season, with a season-high 22 shot attempts in the attacking end to go along with some solid defensive work in front of freshman goalkeeper Freddie Lapworth, who earned the victory in his collegiate debut.
"These were obviously an important three points, and there are a lot of games still in front of us," said head coach Dave Brandt. "Great goal by Sebastian Paz, and we'll take this one and try to keep building."
CLUTCH! Here's the Sebastian Paz game-winner in the 84th minute that sent the Bison to a big 2-1 win over Lehigh. #rayBucknell@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/fIzIApZ32d
— Bucknell Men's Soccer (@Bucknell_MSOC) September 29, 2022
Bucknell was dangerous on Tall's set pieces in the first half and nearly scored the opening goal on three of them in a span of less than seven minutes. In the 14th minute of the match, the Bison earned a free kick near the end line, and Tall's service to Cade McGrath was headed just over the bar.
Not even two minutes later the Bison drew another foul in a dangerous area, and this time it was MJ Kuczura just missing the left post with a sliding shot. In the 20th minute, Tall's corner kick led to a flurry inside the 6-yard box. The ball never quite crossed the goal line, and Bucknell's appeals for a hand ball on a fallen Lehigh defender right on the line were denied.
Tall and the Bison finally did cash in 90 seconds later. This time it was Charlie Holmes who won a free kick two yards outside the box, and Tall stepped up and buried the free kick inside the right post. Tall has two goals this season, both coming on direct free kicks. The other was an 84th-minute game-winner against Saint Peter's on Sept. 4.
Let's take a look at the Mo Tall goal! It's his second of the season, both coming on perfectly placed free kicks. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Men's Soccer (@Bucknell_MSOC) September 28, 2022
Watch live: https://t.co/ysTXaVrZMO@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/66Aj7cPRHN
The only blemish on Lapworth and the Bison defense came in the 52nd minute, when Jack Sarkos slammed in a header from point-blank range off a nice cross from the right side from Jason Pynadath.
The Bison responded well after conceding the goal and held possession in the Lehigh end for much of the remainder of the match. Mountain Hawks keeper Ryan Gross made four saves to keep it level, but Bucknell found its breakthrough with just 6:46 remaining.
Kuczura tracked down a cross-field pass from Tall near the right touchline and found McGrath, who turned infield and slipped a perfect ball through to Paz. The junior striker's first touch was a blast into the back of the net from the right side of the area.
Paz has a flair for the dramatic, as his most recent goal was an 87th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Binghamton last season.
Lehigh had a final push, however, and earned a free kick and two corner kicks in the closing minutes. Perry Kingson had the ball fall to him on the second corner, but his shot sailed over the bar. The Mountain Hawks tried one last counter in the final 10 seconds, and Lapworth had to dive off his line to corral a cross in from Pynadath as the horn sounded.
Bucknell outshot Lehigh 11-2 in the second half and 22-9 overall. Lehigh had a 7-5 advantage in corner kicks. Lapworth made four saves in his first collegiate outing, while Gross was credited with five for Lehigh.
Lafayette visits Emmitt Field on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Leopards are 1-1-1 in Patriot League play after falling 1-0 at home to Navy on Wednesday.
Team Stats
LEHIGH
BUCKNELL
Goals
1
2
Shots
9
22
Shots on Goal
5
7
Saves
5
4
Corners
7
5
Fouls
15
9
Scoring Plays
Tall, Mo (2)
Free kick from 20 yards
21:59
Sarkos, Jack (6)
Assisted By: Pynadath, Jason
Clean header off cross from 21
51:24
Paz, Sebastian (1)
Assisted By: McGrath, Cade , Kuczura, MJ
5 plays in 9 for shot from right side of
83:14
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
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