COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER: Bucknell 2, La Salle 1 (OT) Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium Lewisburg, Pa. September 4, 2011 Contact: Jon Terry ALLI LEADS BISON MEN’S SOCCER PAST LA SALLE, 2-1 IN OVERTIME Sophomore Defender Scores Twice, Including Game-Winner 48 Seconds into OT LEWISBURG, Pa. – Sophomore defender Mayowa Alli (Lanham, Md./Bishop McNamara) continued his outstanding start to the season with two more goals on Sunday, including the game-winner 48 seconds into overtime to lift the Bucknell men’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over La Salle at hot and humid Emmitt Field. The Bison are now 2-1 on the season with two nationally ranked opponents looming on the schedule next weekend. Bucknell completely dominated the first half-hour of the contest, taking 16 of the game’s first 17 shots. But the Bison had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard thanks to a number of good saves by La Salle keeper James Clark, then they had to wait out a lightning delay of just over an hour. When play resumed, things evened up a bit, and the Explorers posted the game’s first goal when Jeff Pio was left unmarked in the box to head home Jason Plumhoff’s free kick from the right sideline with 2:27 left in the first half. Bucknell struck right back and equalized after La Salle was called for a foul just outside its penalty area in the final 30 seconds of the half. On the free kick Brendan Burgforf (Westfield, N.J./Pingry School) chipped a ball into the box, and Alli finished it with a diving header. In the first half, Clark made diving saves on Luke Joyner (Dallas, Texas/J.J. Pearce) and Josh Plump (Millburn, N.J./Millburn), and then with about 38 minutes left in regulation he made another sparkling save to rob Ryan Sappington (Barboursville, Va./Shattuck-St. Mary’s) after a well-timed passing combination with Joe Meyer (Sykesville, Md./McDonogh). A minute later the Bison dodged a bullet when keeper Tommy Caso (Phoenix, Md./McDonogh) got caught off his line and a loose ball came right to Nick Becker, but Becker missed to the right with his 25-yard shot at the open net. Playing in overtime for the first time this season, Bucknell nearly scored just seconds into the extra period when Plump found himself all alone on a breakaway. Clark saved Plump’s initial shot, and then Plump tried to volley the rebound toward the left post, but a La Salle defender cleared the ball over the end line at the last instant. But that sequence led to the winning goal, as on the ensuing corner kick Meyer connected with Alli, who bounced his header into the right side of the net. Alli also scored on a header in Thursday’s win over Saint Francis (Pa.), and he now has a team-high three goals on the season, equaling his total from 2010 when he was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Bucknell finished with a whopping 28-10 shot advantage, including an 18-4 edge in the first half. The Bison had 11 corner kicks to La Salle’s four. Clark logged 12 saves in the game, while Caso had two for the Bison in upping his season record to 2-0. La Salle finished 9-7-3 overall and 6-2-1 in the Atlantic 10 last season, finishing second in the regular season before advancing to the A-10 championship game. The Explorers fell to 0-3 on the season against a tough early schedule. They previously fell to Rutgers and Penn. Next weekend the Bison travel to South Bend, Ind., for the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament. Bucknell will face No. 18 Indiana on Friday at 5 p.m., and No. 10 Notre Dame on Sunday at 2 p.m. www.BucknellBison.com