The AU men’s soccer team exacted a bit of revenge Oct. 1 by defeating Bucknell University 2-1 in Lewisburg, Pa., after falling in the Patriot League Tournament finals against the Bison the past two seasons.
The Eagles (4-6-1, 2-0) overcame a 1-0 second-half deficit with two goals in the game’s final 20 minutes to defeat the Bison (5-5, 0-2) and open up Patriot League play with two straight wins.
The scoreless tie was broken in the game’s 70th minute on an AU own goal, when Eagle defender and freshman Conor Osborne, pressured by Bucknell forward Josh Plump, played a ball in the 18-yard box over the head of AU goalkeeper Matt Makowski and into the Eagles’ net.
Bucknell nearly allowed an own goal of its own earlier in the game, when Bison goalkeeper Tommy Caso had to make an athletic play after one of his defenders misplayed a clearing attempt.
AU bounced back quickly, as Seth Goldman sent a shot from 12 yards out through Caso’s legs in the 72nd minute to tie the game at one apiece. The score was Goldman’s third on the season and gives the redshirt junior two goals in the past three games. Cristobal Soto also registered his first assist of the year on the play.
Jack Scott put the Eagles in front 10 minutes later when he received a long pass from Marco Dej and found the back of the net from 16 yards away to put AU ahead 2-1. The Eagles then fought off Bucknell over the final eight minutes to earn the victory.
AU outshot Bucknell 13-6, putting five of those shots on goal compared to three for the Bison. Tyler Collins led the team in shots taken with four total, while Goldman and Adem Gokturk each had two.
The Eagles committed 13 fouls in the game and picked up two yellow cards, with one from Conor Osborne and the other from Gokturk.
For the Bison, Brendan Burgdorf led the team with four shots, and Nader Sawtarie and Ryan Sappington accounted for the other two.
With the win, the Eagles have now extended their winning streak to three games and are in sole possession of first place in the Patriot League with six points.
AU will be back in action Oct. 4, when they go on the road for a non-conference contest with Georgetown University. Georgetown will be another tough test on AU’s rugged non-league schedule, as the Hoyas are 6-1-3 on the season and ranked No. 17 in the country.
The Eagles will resume Patriot League play Oct. 8 when they return to Reeves Field to take on the Army Black Knights, who finished the opening week of conference play at 1-1. Prior to this season, the last time Army recorded a conference victory was November 2008.
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