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HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/29/11) – The Colgate men's soccer team secured its fourth Patriot League win on Saturday afternoon when it defeated Bucknell 2-1.
 
Senior co-captain Steven Miller led the team with three points from the game-winning goal and an assist while senior Matt Schuber scored the opening goal. The Raiders improved their league mark to 4-1-1.
 
The first half started off a little slow as both teams warmed up to the chilly temperature. The Bison took the first shot of the game but it was Colgate (10-4-3, 4-1-1 PL) that was able to find two close scoring opportunities shortly after, first from a fancy back heeled shot from junior Mike Garzi and then off a fast break when Miller crossed the ball to junior Shane Conlin, but it was knocked just wide of the right post. As the game progressed, both teams continued to move the ball around in an attempt to break down the other's defense. Midway through the half, the Raiders began to hold majority of the ball possession as they worked the ball up the pitch, which slowed Bucknell's offensive momentum. The change in pace resulted in a Colgate in the 41st minute when junior Mike Reidy sent a cross from the right wing to Miller at the far post. Miller then one-timed the ball across the goal line to Schuber who blasted it into the back of the net to put the score at 1-0 at the end of the first half.
 
The Raiders started the second period more aggressively than the first, putting pressure on Bucknell's goal with a series of crosses but could not connect on the pass to find a goal. The Bison then changed their attacking strategy, testing junior goalie Grant Reed with some long shots but none were on target. Bucknell then found a close opportunity with a header off a cross that was bouncing across the goal line but was tipped out of bounds by senior co-captain Mike Reese to keep the score at 1-0. Feeling the pressure of the near miss, Colgate then moved the ball to their attacking end and found a second goal four minutes later at the 62:43 mark to take the 2-0 lead. The goal came off a corner kick by sophomore Barrett Metzger that landed in front of Miller who then volleyed it into the back of the net, deflecting off a Bucknell defender on the way in. Both teams continued to play attacking soccer throughout the half, creating scoring opportunities on both ends of the field. This time around, it was the Bison that were able to find a goal from a loose ball in the box in the 76th minute to reduce the score to 2-1. The Bison continued to search for an equalizer in the final minutes of the game, forcing Colgate to play strong defense and eventually secure the 2-1 win.
 
“Any time Colgate and Bucknell play, you know it is going to be a battle,” stated head coach Erik Ronning. “Tonight was no different. It was a very focused and businesslike effort, and I am proud of the way the team grinded it out in the last 10 minutes after the Bison got a goal back.  This group really believes in what we are doing, and trusts each other wholeheartedly. We got a little loose after scoring the second goal but we managed the game very well and got much tighter in the last 10 minutes.”

Grant Reed had six saves for Colgate while Marc Hartman had three for Bucknell.
 
The Raiders will resume play on Tuesday, Nov. 1 with their final non-conference matchup of the season against Harvard in Cambridge, Mass.