Men’s Soccer Drops Home Opener to Robert Morris, 3-2

Friday, September 1

Lewisburg, Pa.

7 p.m.

Bucknell University

1-2-0

Robert Morris

2-0-1

Robert Morris

Bucknell

Men’s Soccer Drops Home Opener to Robert Morris, 3-2

9/1/2023 10:01:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Charlie Holmes and Ben Sheffield scored goals, but the Bucknell men's soccer team could not overcome three first-half goals from Robert Morris and fell 3-2 on Friday night at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium. The Bison fell to 1-2 on the young season despite controlling possession for much of the night, while the Colonials remained unbeaten at 2-0-1.

Robert Morris was limited to four total shots in the match, but all three of its first-half attempts found the back of the net. Twice the Bison halved two-goal deficits, the latter on Sheffield's first collegiate goal, but could not find a late equalizer.

Bucknell came out flying and had the ball in the attacking third for most of the first quarter-hour of the match. Kasper Piela just missed from a sharp angle at the left post, and Holmes forced a diving save from Kieran Gorgenyi. In the 17th minute, the Bison lost possession in the RMU box and were burned on a quick counter-attack.

Anass Hadran sliced a long lead pass through to Kai McCloughlin, who shot through a sliding defender and past a diving Freddie Lapworth. Only eight minutes later it was 2-0 after a controversial goal. Lapworth went high to corral a long free kick into the center of the area, and as he took some contact from the side he spilled the ball, allowing Gabe Norris to slide it into the empty net.

The Bison got on the board in the 32nd minute after Holmes won a penalty and then finished from the spot. A Robert Morris defender jumped over his back to challenge for a lofted ball into the area, and then Holmes slotted his PK into the left side netting for his second goal of the season.

The Colonials added a third less than five minutes later when Nolan Hutter's long service from the right side was headed in by Chase Gilley at the back post.

Bucknell nearly answered in the dying seconds of the half. Cade McGrath hustled to take a corner kick with the countdown inside five seconds. The ball ricocheted off the back of David Krumov and was loose in the goal mouth for an instant, but William Dodzi Afawubo bicycle kicked it out as the horn sounded.

The Bison did find that second goal on a well-worked set piece in the 52nd minute. Marco Valentic played the restart short to MJ Kuczura, who delivered a perfect service to Sheffield for a cracking header.

Bucknell had the ball in the RMU box on a number of occasions over the last half-hour but couldn't get anything else on target. Valentic had an attempt from distance sail over the bar in the 85th minute, and Sheffield's header off a corner kick went wide with 22 seconds to go.

Bucknell finished with an 11-4 shot advantage and an 8-6 edge in corner kicks.

"We're frustrated and disappointed," said head coach Dave Brandt afterward. "Robert Morris has a good team and we knew that, but a couple of mistakes and a little bit of bad luck let us down. I believe in our guys. We are very talented but also still very young, so we have to learn and keep pushing."

The Bison are now off until next Friday, when they host George Mason at 7 p.m.