News Summary
The Old Dominion men’s soccer team experienced a tough defeat against Bucknell, concluding the match with a score of 4-2. Despite an early goal by Lewis Rourke, the Monarchs struggled to maintain momentum, allowing Bucknell to take control. After a series of missed opportunities and defensive mishaps, Old Dominion could not recover, resulting in their disappointing performance. With this loss, the team’s record is now 1-2-2 as they prepare for their next match against UMBC.
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania – The Old Dominion men’s soccer team faced a challenging defeat against Bucknell, ending the match with a score of 4-2 on Sunday afternoon. Despite an early lead, the Monarchs struggled to maintain control as they fell behind, marking a disappointing outcome in their latest match.
The match kicked off with an impressive start for Old Dominion as Lewis Rourke scored just 64 seconds into the game, marking his first career goal for ODU. Rourke’s goal was made possible through a collaboration with teammates Jake Lane and Marcelo Randolph, who orchestrated a cross-field pass that allowed Rourke to exploit an opportunity early on.
Although the Monarchs maintained a positive attitude in the initial minutes, the momentum shifted quickly. Following Rourke’s early strike, Old Dominion’s performance began to decline. Head coach Tennant McVea noted that the players were outworked and outran after their initial goal, leading to a changed trajectory in the match.
In the 22nd minute, Bucknell managed to equalize the score. A deflection off Old Dominion defender Jago Lott sent the ball into the net, catching the Monarchs off guard and leveling the game at 1-1. Just before halftime, Bucknell took the lead with a goal from Jakub Samelko in the 44th minute, leaving the scoreboard reading 2-1 in their favor as both teams went to the break.
Statistics from the first half reveal that Old Dominion registered three shots compared to Bucknell’s eight, managing only two shots on goal while Bucknell had three. Despite three corner kick attempts, ODU could not capitalize on these opportunities. The Monarchs entered the second half trailing and in need of a strong response.
The situation worsened for Old Dominion early in the second half when Abdou Magib-So conceded a penalty in the 52nd minute. Although ODU’s goalkeeper, Michael Statham, managed to save the initial penalty kick taken by Bucknell’s Jack Lucas, Lucas capitalized on the rebound to put Bucknell ahead 3-1. Bucknell’s dominance continued as Winston Oziri scored the fourth goal in the 81st minute, assisted by Nate Coughlin.
In a late attempt to turn the tide, Rourke managed to score his second goal of the match in the 89th minute, which narrowed the gap to 4-2. However, Old Dominion could not produce any further scoring opportunities before the final whistle blew. The match concluded with each team tied at five total shots, though ODU recorded three shots on goal while Bucknell had six in the second half.
Overall, Bucknell outshot Old Dominion 13-8 for the match, highlighting a significant disparity in offensive pressure. ODU endured disciplinary challenges as well, receiving seven yellow cards, while Bucknell had two players booked. Statham made three crucial saves for ODU, matching Bucknell’s Freddie Lapworth, who also recorded three saves during the game.
With this defeat, Old Dominion’s record now stands at 1 win, 2 losses, and 2 draws (1-2-2), and they are looking to bounce back in their upcoming match. Bucknell improves to a record of 3 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw (3-1-1) following their victory.
Old Dominion’s next challenge will be against UMBC on Friday, September 12, at 7 p.m., at Retriever Soccer Park in Baltimore, Maryland. The team will aim to learn from this defeat and improve their performance as the season progresses.
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Additional Resources
- ODU Sports: ODU Men’s Soccer Falls 4-2 to Bucknell
- Wikipedia: Men’s Soccer
- Bucknell Bison: Men’s Soccer Surges to Dominant 4-2 Win
- Google Search: Old Dominion soccer
- Lehigh Sports: Gueye’s Brace Saves Result in 2-2 Draw vs Old Dominion
- Google Scholar: Men’s Soccer Old Dominion
- GW Sports: Men’s Soccer Opens 2025 at Old Dominion
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Soccer History
- GW Sports: Men’s Soccer Defeated by Pair of Late ODU Goals
- Google News: Bucknell men’s soccer
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