Men's Soccer Falls Just Short in 2-1 Loss to Lehigh in Patriot League Championship

Saturday, November 14

Lewisburg, Pa.

6 p.m.

Bucknell University

10-9-1, 5-3-1

Lehigh (PL Championship)

8-7-5, 5-3-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Lehigh	1	1	2
Bucknell	0	1	1

11/14/2026 8:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's soccer team fell 2-1 to Lehigh in the Patriot League Championship match at jam-packed Emmitt Field on Saturday night at Emmitt Field. Lehigh is the 2026 Patriot League champion and receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

Despite an 89th minute goal from Lewisburg native Viktor Permyashkin, the Bison could not overcome a 2-0 deficit that featured a goal in each half for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh wins its first Patriot League title since 2019 and its fourth title in program history.

Bridger Baltes opened the scoring just five minutes into the match to stun an energetic crowd of 1,500 Bison faithful. The Bison held roughly 65 percent of possession in the match, but Lehigh's midfield and defensive line stood strong.

The Mountain Hawks caught the Bison out early on the counter attack. Thomas Robertson found space on the wing, and played a brilliant ball into Baltes. Baltes took a great first touch and lifted his shot over Thomas Yerbury for a 1-0 advantage.

The Bison looked for the answer with five corners and several free kicks in the attacking third, but the Bison did not trouble Anton Kinnunen in the first half. Bucknell's biggest chance of the half came in the 19th minute as the ball snuck through to the back post on a throw in. Piela could not manage to get a foot on the bouncing ball as Lehigh stayed in front.

Bucknell dominated possession again in the second half but still did not trouble the goalkeeper until the late stages of the match.

Aiden Gonzalez doubled the Lehigh lead in the 74th minute on another counter attack to put the Bison away. Baltes won possession and played Gonzalez through on goal. Gonzalez delivered a left-footed finish to make it 2-0.

Bucknell thought it found a goal through Jacob Thomas off of a deflection on a shot from Jack Lucas, but Thomas was just inches offside to wave off the goal.

Minutes later, Permyashkin found the breakthrough to halve the deficit with 1:07 left on the clock. Collin Sullivan found space for a shot that was blocked inside the box. Permyashkin reacted quickly and buried the shot on one touch in the bottom right corner.

Bucknell out-shot Lehigh 12-9 and the Bison had seven corners compared to Lehigh's two. Kinnunen made three saves in goal while Yerbury made two.

Lehigh's Trey Sheeler was named the 2026 Patriot League Championship Most Outstanding Player, and Gonzalez, Shea Coughlin and Baltes were named All-Tournament selections. Kiko Hidalgo, Collin Sullivan and Jack Lucas were named All-Tournament selections for Bucknell.

Bucknell ends the season with a 10-9-1 record while Lehigh advances with an 8-7-5 record. Lucas, Piela, Hidalgo Cade Whitmire, David Krumov, Jakub Samelko, Jack Heintz, Mason Lillis, and Rex Alphen all played in their final match of their career for Bucknell. The senior class appeared in two Patriot League championship matches and claimed Bucknell's first Patriot League title in over 10 years back in 2024.