Bucknell Men's Soccer Rallies Past Lehigh, 3-2, Remains Alive in Playoff Hunt

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Conor O'Brien's goal on a free kick was the game-winner at Lehigh.

O'Brien scores twice for Bison, including game-winner

Nov. 1, 2008

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Conor O'Brien (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./St. Anthony's) continued his late-season scoring surge with two goals and Bucknell battled back from a two-goal deficit to score a critical 3-2 Patriot League road win at Lehigh on Saturday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex.

With the win, Bucknell moved to 8-7-3 on the season and 3-3-0 in the Patriot League, and more importantly the Bison remained alive for a Patriot League Tournament berth. Bucknell would have been eliminated from postseason contention with a loss, but it moved up a spot into fifth place in the standings and will be within striking distance for one of the four tournament berths if it can win at American and get some help next week.

Colgate, Holy Cross and Lafayette were also winners on Saturday, and the Raiders and Crusaders are now tied for first place with 13 points. Lafayette has 11, American 10, Bucknell nine and Lehigh eight, although American does have one extra league game to make up with last-place Army this week due to an earlier weather postponement. If American wins that game, then the Bison would have to beat American and have Lafayette lose at home to Holy Cross to make the tournament. If the Eagles lose or tie against Army, then the Bison would only need to win next week to move on.

Things seemed dire for the Bison in Bethlehem when Lehigh (7-6-3, 2-2-2) stunned them with two goals in the first 10 minutes. Only 5:43 in, Jordie Ciuffetelli put a throw-in into the penalty box, Jim Taranto flicked it to the back post and Adam Welch finished to put the Mountain Hawks in front.

Only four minutes later Adam Gazda took a free kick from 30 yards out and Matthew McNeil deflected it in to make it a 2-0 game.

Bucknell never panicked, however, and in the 17th minute the Bison got one of those goals right back. Alex Russo (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) dribbled down the left flank and centered a pass toward a sliding O'Brien, who deflected it in.

It stayed 2-1 into the second half, when the Bison drew even in the 52nd minute. Lehigh goalkeeper Jonathan Nydell came out and punched away a serve into the box, but it went right to Bucknell defender Dirk Swaneveld (Blairstown, N.J./North Warren), who blasted it in off the chest of a Lehigh player from 20 yards out.

Then in the 64th minute, Lehigh was called for a hand ball just two yards outside the box, and O'Brien booted it home to the far post to make it 3-2.

Lehigh took three more shots the rest of the way, including a Gazda attempt that hit the post with 10 minutes left. Nydell made a save on O'Brien seconds later to keep it 3-2, and the Bison were able to run out the clock.

Shots were even at 14-apiece, but Bucknell had a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks. There were 27 fouls in the match, 15 called against Bucknell. Will Byrne (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna) made two saves en route to his third win of the season, while Nydell finished with three saves.

O'Brien now has points in four straight and five of his last six games, and with seven goals and seven assists for 21 points he took over the Patriot League scoring lead.

Bucknell's all-important game at American kicks off at 1 p.m. next Saturday in Washington, D.C.