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 Senior Collin Cunning |
Oct. 31, 2007
NEWARK - Visiting Bucknell got the only goal of the game for either team late in the eighth minute and then made it stand up for more than 82 minutes in a hard-fought Halloween night men's soccer win over NJIT Wednesday on Lubetkin Field.
The Bison, who have 10 starters returning from their team that won the 2006 Patriot League postseason tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I College Cup, got the only tally of the night at 7:52.
Senior Kevin Holmes made a strong run down the right wing to the end line, where he sent a crossing pass to the goalmouth. Conor O'Brien, close in front of the goal, received the pass and drove a short shot past NJIT goalkeeper Collin Cunning. It was the Bucknell team-leading fifth goal of the season for O'Brien.
The rest of the match was played on an even basis, which was reflected in the final statistics. The total shots were 12 for each team and both goalkeepers, NJIT's Cunning and Bucknell's Joey Kuterbach made seven saves apiece. The shutout against the Highlanders was the seventh of the season for the senior Kuterbach.
Bucknell's two best scoring chances, aside from the goal, took place before either team had scored. NJIT's two best scoring chances came in the second half.
Less than five minutes into the second half, Brian Nash of the Highlanders shot just wide right from 15 yards out on a crossing pass from Gustav Warfving.
And Warfving was in the middle of NJIT's best late opportunity, carrying the ball at full speed from midfield into the box. Defended well, Warfving shielded the ball from the defender on the run. But his rolling shot from across his body lacked just enough steam and the sprawling Kuterbach was able to stretch for the fingertip save.
"I thought we played pretty well," said NJIT coach Pedro Lopes. "We played one of the better teams in the Patriot League and we had a lot of the ball.
"We did good things between the two 18s, but we had to get a better product to show for all the possession. We need to combine and get better shots in the attacking third."
NJIT is still looking for its first win in the all-time series against Bucknell. The Highlanders have held their own against the Bison, a quality team, since the first meeting in 2004, NJIT's first season of Division I competition.
Bucknell won that first meeting, 3-2, and the teams played to double overtime ties in 2005 (1-1) and 2006 (0-0), before Wednesday's tight 1-0 win for the Bison.
NJIT will close out regular season play on Saturday at 2 pm, when it hosts defending Atlantic Soccer Conference champion Adelphi on Lubetkin Field. The game will be Senior Day, with the Highlanders recommending departing seniors Collin Cunning, Robert Herrera, Brian Nash and Dario Brito.
