Sunday, September 4
Lewisburg, Pa.
5 p.m.
Bucknell University
1-3-0
2
vs
1
Saint Peter's
0-2-1
1
2
F
Saint Peter's
1
0
1
Bucknell
0
2
2
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Mo Tall’s 84th-Minute Free Kick Delivers Men’s Soccer 2-1 Win over Saint Peter’s
9/4/2022 8:33:00 PM | Men's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's soccer team won a thriller in its 2022 home opener on Sunday night, scoring twice in the game's final 8:24 to steal a 2-1 win away from Saint Peter's and give head coach Dave Brandt his first Bucknell victory.
Some great work by Jordan Miller down the right flank resulted in an own goal that drew the Bison level in the 82nd minute, and then Mo Tall delivered a moment of brilliance 90 seconds later with a 28-yard free kick into the top left corner of the goal.
"I am very pleased for the guys," said Brandt afterward. "This was a deserved and earned result. There's no doubt that we have a long way to go to get to where we want to be at the end of the year, but this was a good step and it was good to get a win at home after the way we controlled possession. That's the way soccer is sometimes. Winning a game like that often comes down to belief, but you have to fight to earn that confidence and build that belief."
Now 1-3 on the season, the Bison were deserving of the result after dominating possession for most of the night. Bucknell finished with a 17-4 shot advantage but faced a dire situation as Saint Peter's (0-2-1) scored on its only shot on target all night.
Like Bucknell, the Peacocks also took advantage of a set piece. In the 19th minute, Reiss Skeen's restart skipped through traffic and was headed in at the back post by Daniel Blackmore.
Saint Peter's goalkeeper Guillem Badenes Mecho was sharp in the first half, making seven saves, as Bucknell generated some good build-up play. He denied Miller twice from close range and used quick reflexes to parry away a sharp-angled drive from Marco Valentic.
The Bison buzzed the crowded Saint Peter's box again late in the contest in search of the equalizer. Cade McGrath made a nice turn to find space before firing over the bar in the 53rd minute. Sebastian Paz got through two defenders into the area in 69th, but Tall had a shot blocked and then Charlie Holmes sent a lefty curler just wide of the post.
Bucknell's breakthrough finally came on a terrific counter-attack. Tall threaded a ball down the right sideline to a streaking Miller, who got all the way to the end line and then was able to turn the corner. Miller tried to slip a pass back to McGrath at the penalty spot, but Marco Torino slid to break up the play and defected the ball into the roof of the net.
The Bison went right back on the attack after the goal, and Paz drew a foul 10 yards outside the box. Tall went upper 90 on the free kick, with the ball just grazing the goalkeeper's fingertips. It was a magical moment for Tall, a senior from Burkina Faso. After missing all of last season due to injury and having all but five games of his sophomore season wiped out due to the pandemic, he was able to celebrate his first career goal in front of his home fans.
"A moment of sheer quality from Mo," said Brandt. "That is something that he is certainly capable of doing, and it was a nice exclamation point tonight."
This was the first of four straight home matches for the Bison, who played their first three on the road. Mount St. Mary's comes in next on Friday at 7 p.m.
Some great work by Jordan Miller down the right flank resulted in an own goal that drew the Bison level in the 82nd minute, and then Mo Tall delivered a moment of brilliance 90 seconds later with a 28-yard free kick into the top left corner of the goal.
"I am very pleased for the guys," said Brandt afterward. "This was a deserved and earned result. There's no doubt that we have a long way to go to get to where we want to be at the end of the year, but this was a good step and it was good to get a win at home after the way we controlled possession. That's the way soccer is sometimes. Winning a game like that often comes down to belief, but you have to fight to earn that confidence and build that belief."
Let's take a look at this moment of brilliance from Mo Tall. This 84th-minute free kick delivered a 2-1 victory for the Bison! #rayBucknell@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPNPlus | @NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/0omLZDkiMY
— Bucknell Men's Soccer (@Bucknell_MSOC) September 4, 2022
Now 1-3 on the season, the Bison were deserving of the result after dominating possession for most of the night. Bucknell finished with a 17-4 shot advantage but faced a dire situation as Saint Peter's (0-2-1) scored on its only shot on target all night.
Like Bucknell, the Peacocks also took advantage of a set piece. In the 19th minute, Reiss Skeen's restart skipped through traffic and was headed in at the back post by Daniel Blackmore.
Saint Peter's goalkeeper Guillem Badenes Mecho was sharp in the first half, making seven saves, as Bucknell generated some good build-up play. He denied Miller twice from close range and used quick reflexes to parry away a sharp-angled drive from Marco Valentic.
The Bison buzzed the crowded Saint Peter's box again late in the contest in search of the equalizer. Cade McGrath made a nice turn to find space before firing over the bar in the 53rd minute. Sebastian Paz got through two defenders into the area in 69th, but Tall had a shot blocked and then Charlie Holmes sent a lefty curler just wide of the post.
Bucknell's breakthrough finally came on a terrific counter-attack. Tall threaded a ball down the right sideline to a streaking Miller, who got all the way to the end line and then was able to turn the corner. Miller tried to slip a pass back to McGrath at the penalty spot, but Marco Torino slid to break up the play and defected the ball into the roof of the net.
The Bison went right back on the attack after the goal, and Paz drew a foul 10 yards outside the box. Tall went upper 90 on the free kick, with the ball just grazing the goalkeeper's fingertips. It was a magical moment for Tall, a senior from Burkina Faso. After missing all of last season due to injury and having all but five games of his sophomore season wiped out due to the pandemic, he was able to celebrate his first career goal in front of his home fans.
"A moment of sheer quality from Mo," said Brandt. "That is something that he is certainly capable of doing, and it was a nice exclamation point tonight."
This was the first of four straight home matches for the Bison, who played their first three on the road. Mount St. Mary's comes in next on Friday at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
SPU
BUCKNELL
Goals
1
2
Shots
4
17
Shots on Goal
1
11
Saves
9
0
Corners
2
4
Fouls
10
13
Scoring Plays
Blackmore, Daniel (1)
Assisted By: Skeen, Reiss
Free kick from 24 finds 4 at back post
18:20
TEAM
10 gets to end line, cross put in by SPU
81:36
Tall, Mo (1)
Direct free kick from 24 yards
83:08
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
M
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