Wednesday, October 24
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Bucknell
Photo by: Josh Liddick
Lehigh prepared for all-important showdown at Bucknell Wednesday
10/23/2018 11:36:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh men's soccer is ready to hit the road once again with a mission to get back on track as the regular season starts to wind down. The Mountain Hawks head to Lewisburg to face Bucknell on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in a battle of Patriot League powers.
Lehigh has not scored a goal in three games dating back to Oct. 6 vs. Navy and is 0-2-1 during that span, falling to archrival Lafayette and American as well as drawing with non-league opponent Dartmouth.
The Mountain Hawks are coming off a tough 1-0 loss to American on Saturday at the Ulrich Sports Complex, after a flurry of five shots on goal in the final 10 seconds of the game weren't enough to send the contest to overtime and have a chance to get three points in the fight for the top spot for the Patriot League Tournament.
Since scoring his fifth goal of the season on Oct. 3 in a big home victory over then 20th-ranked Colgate, senior Mark Forrest has shot the ball 22 times without finding the back of the net. Forrest has had the offensive opportunities and chances to score goals, but the ball hasn't crossed the goal line in his last four games. The same applies to freshman Josh Luchini, also with five scores on the year, who hasn't scored since Oct. 6 vs. Navy, the Mountain Hawks' last goal.
While Lehigh's offense has struggled as of late, its defense, along with junior goalkeeper Will Smith have done their jobs in containing opponents and holding them to just under a goal (0.80) per game.
Bucknell enters Wednesday night a tough competitor, even though the team had a setback in a 3-1 loss to Army West Point on Saturday. With 10 league points, the Bison (6-5-3, 3-2-1 PL) are currently slotted in the fifth spot in the Patriot League. The top six teams make the Patriot League Tournament in just a couple of weeks. That means Lehigh, who has 12 points in second place, has a two point lead over Bucknell with just three games to play.
Despite playoff positioning still being up in the air, Wednesday's matchup means a whole lot to both squads looking to finish as high as possible atop the Patriot League standings.
The Bison are led by Tyler Peterson, who has three goals for six points on nine shots this season. Matt Thorsheim, Michael Pavick and Bernie Wright have each added two goals each. Bucknell goalkeeper Ryan Ott has been one of the Patriot League's top goalkeepers this season with a 0.92 goals allowed average, a 79.7 save percentage and five shutouts.
Lehigh and Bucknell are currently tied in the all-time series at 27-27-9. Bucknell won the last matchup, 2-1 on Oct. 25, 2017.
Wednesday's important match will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network.
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Lehigh has not scored a goal in three games dating back to Oct. 6 vs. Navy and is 0-2-1 during that span, falling to archrival Lafayette and American as well as drawing with non-league opponent Dartmouth.
The Mountain Hawks are coming off a tough 1-0 loss to American on Saturday at the Ulrich Sports Complex, after a flurry of five shots on goal in the final 10 seconds of the game weren't enough to send the contest to overtime and have a chance to get three points in the fight for the top spot for the Patriot League Tournament.
Since scoring his fifth goal of the season on Oct. 3 in a big home victory over then 20th-ranked Colgate, senior Mark Forrest has shot the ball 22 times without finding the back of the net. Forrest has had the offensive opportunities and chances to score goals, but the ball hasn't crossed the goal line in his last four games. The same applies to freshman Josh Luchini, also with five scores on the year, who hasn't scored since Oct. 6 vs. Navy, the Mountain Hawks' last goal.
While Lehigh's offense has struggled as of late, its defense, along with junior goalkeeper Will Smith have done their jobs in containing opponents and holding them to just under a goal (0.80) per game.
Bucknell enters Wednesday night a tough competitor, even though the team had a setback in a 3-1 loss to Army West Point on Saturday. With 10 league points, the Bison (6-5-3, 3-2-1 PL) are currently slotted in the fifth spot in the Patriot League. The top six teams make the Patriot League Tournament in just a couple of weeks. That means Lehigh, who has 12 points in second place, has a two point lead over Bucknell with just three games to play.
Despite playoff positioning still being up in the air, Wednesday's matchup means a whole lot to both squads looking to finish as high as possible atop the Patriot League standings.
The Bison are led by Tyler Peterson, who has three goals for six points on nine shots this season. Matt Thorsheim, Michael Pavick and Bernie Wright have each added two goals each. Bucknell goalkeeper Ryan Ott has been one of the Patriot League's top goalkeepers this season with a 0.92 goals allowed average, a 79.7 save percentage and five shutouts.
Lehigh and Bucknell are currently tied in the all-time series at 27-27-9. Bucknell won the last matchup, 2-1 on Oct. 25, 2017.
Wednesday's important match will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network.
Like Lehigh Men's Soccer on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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