Gahagan Helps Rutgers Men's Soccer Defeat Bucknell, 3-1
Oct 12 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, NJ – Senior Scott Gahagan (Old Bridge, NJ) enjoyed a breakout offensive performance, scoring a goal and assisting on another in the second half to lead Rutgers (4-7-2) to a 3-1 victory over Bucknell (5-5-2) in men’s soccer action on Wednesday night.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the 63rd minute, Gahagan was in an opportunistic position following a shot from Chris Moore (New Castle, England). Moore streaked towards the goal, drawing goalkeeper Adam Edwards out of the box. Moore’s shot was blocked, but Gahagan was waiting at the door step and flicked the shot in, notching his first points of the year.
Needing an important insurance goal in the final minutes of regulation, Gahagan dribbled into the box and left the ball for Adam Sternberger (Petersburg, NJ), who rocketed a shot past Bucknell goalie Adam Edwards with 35 seconds left. It was Sternberger’s second goal of the season, and provided RU with its final two-goal margin of victory.
“Scott got free in the box a couple of times tonight, and when you give him those chances, sooner or later good things are going to happen,” said head coach Bob Reasso. “I was proud of the way the kids fought the elements tonight and played hard. It’s a good win and we played well, but now we need it to carry over into Saturday at DePaul.”
Rutgers opened the scoring late in the first half when Nick LaBrocca (Howell, NJ) was awarded a penalty pick after Edwards was issued a yellow card for tripping in the box. Edwards was caught out of position because a clearing pass in the back went wide, and LaBrocca sent his penalty shot to the upper right corner of the goal, past the outstretched arms of Edwards. It was LaBrocca’s team-leading fourth goal of the year.
On a rain-soaked Yurcak Field, Rutgers controlled play in the first half, nearly scoring on four different occasions before LaBrocca’s penalty kick. Sternberger sent a shot that went just wide of the goal in the first five minutes of play, and RU also had three shots that hit the top of the crossbar. Sternberger and Bart Koffeman (The Hague, Holland) each had headers hit the bar, and Moore saw his direct kick from 25 yards out do the same.
A light, persistent rain became heavy in the second half, yet Rutgers was able to battle the elements and outshoot Bucknell 16-8. VanOekel was solid in net, and the defense in front of him did not allow a shot on goal.
Bucknell received the tying score less than five minutes into the second half when Eric Brunton gathered a turnover in the Rutgers box and dribbled in, sending a shot past goalie Matt VanOekel (Chesapeake, VA) to the lower left side of the goal.
Rutgers returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 15, when it travels to Chicago, IL to face BIG EAST newcomer DePaul of Wish Field. Gametime is set for 1:00 p.m.
Soccer Box Score (Final)
2005 Rutgers Men's Soccer
Bucknell vs Rutgers (Oct 12, 2005 at Piscataway, NJ)
Bucknell (5-5-2) vs. Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Rutgers (4-7-2) -------------------------------
Date: Oct 12, 2005 Attendance: 271 Bucknell............ 0 1 - 1
Weather: Rain, wind Rutgers............. 1 2 - 3
Bucknell Rutgers
Pos # Player Sh SOG G A Pos # Player Sh SOG G A
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
GK 1 Edwards, Adam....... - - - - GK 28 VANOEKEL, Matt...... - - - -
2 Loia, Andrew........ - - - - 2 MARTENSON, Jake..... - - - -
5 Wolf, Justin........ - - - - 4 DAILEY, Brinker..... - - - -
7 Curnutte, Corey..... - - - - 5 KARGBO, Abdul....... - - - -
9 Schmiegel, Mark..... 2 - - - 6 KOFFEMAN, Bart...... 3 2 - -
11 Mellott, Joe........ - - - - 7 STERNBERGER, Adam... 4 1 1 -
14 Faneck, Tim......... - - - - 8 LABROCCA, Nick...... 2 1 1 -
16 Swaneveld, Dirk..... - - - - 10 O'CONNOR, Kevin..... 1 - - -
19 Holmes, Kevin....... 1 - - - 11 MOORE, Chris........ 3 - - -
21 Brunton, Eric....... 2 1 1 - 14 BREZNITSKY, Ryan.... - - - -
22 Visnic, Scott....... - - - - 21 SALYER, Chad........ 1 1 - -
---------- Substitutes ---------- ---------- Substitutes ----------
13 Sherman, Tom........ - - - - 12 GAHAGAN, Scott...... 2 1 1 1
17 Ferraro, Anthony.... 2 - - - 16 PETERSEN, Oliver.... - - - -
18 Ziznewski, Daniel... - - - - 22 LLOYD, Adam......... - - - -
24 Kummer, Andy........ 1 - - - Totals.............. 16 6 3 1
26 Hittson, Matt....... - - - -
Totals.............. 8 1 1 0
Bucknell Rutgers
# Player MIN GA Saves # Player MIN GA Saves
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
1 Edwards, Adam....... 90:00 3 3 28 VANOEKEL, Matt...... 90:00 1 0
Shots by period 1 2 Tot Saves by period 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Bucknell............ 3 5 - 8 Bucknell............ 1 2 - 3
Rutgers............. 7 9 - 16 Rutgers............. 0 0 - 0
Corner kicks 1 2 Tot Fouls 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Bucknell............ 2 2 - 4 Bucknell............ 8 6 - 14
Rutgers............. 0 2 - 2 Rutgers............. 7 4 - 11
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team Goal Scorer Assists
----------------------------------------------------------------
1. 39:38 RUTGERS LABROCCA, Nick Penalty kick
2. 48:39 BUCKNELL Brunton, Eric (2) (unassisted)
3. 62:39 RUTGERS GAHAGAN, Scott (1) (unassisted)
4. 89:25 RUTGERS STERNBERGER, Adam (2) GAHAGAN, Scott
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS:
YC-BUCKNELL #1 (39:38); YC-BUCKNELL #24 (56:41); YC-BUCKNELL #14 (76:27)
Officials: Referee: Ed Shea; Asst. Referee: Jeff Rousseau; Alt. Official: John Leavy;
Timekeeper: J. Paolini; Scorer: M. Basford;
Offsides: Bucknell 2, Rutgers 0.
ID-369062
