By Joe Ruby
Contributing Writer
The men’s soccer team suffered a pair of losses this weekend at the Nike/Aaron Olitsky Tournament, losing 4-0 to host College of Charleston (4-2-1) and 2-1 to Furman (4-2-0). Ross Liberati ’11 scored the sole goal for the Bison and was named to the all-tournament team along with Travis Rand ’11. Wednesday’s scheduled game against Saint Francis (Pa.) was postponed indefinitely.
On Friday night, the Bison fell behind College of Charleston in the 20th minute when Sean De Silva tucked a ball inside the far post for his first goal of the year. Tony Kattreh gave the Cougars a two-goal edge with 1:26 remaining in the first half. Tommy Caso ’12 stopped three of five shots on goal in the first half.
College of Charleston managed another two tallies in the second half, both off Francis Twohig. The first came at 68:24, when Twohig overcame a difficult angle to beat substitute keeper Marc Hartmann ’12. The final score came in the 74th minute when Twohig put a shot past Orman Kimbrough ’14, the third Bison keeper to see action. The goals were Twohig’s third and fourth of the year.
In the second game of the tournament, Liberati scored his third goal of the year, assisted by Mayowa Alli ’14, to tie the game at 1-1 in the 67th minute. Alli sent a throw-in to Liberati, who headed it past the goalkeeper at the near post.
Furman scored the deciding goal just four minutes later when Michael Channel netted his second of the game. A defensive miscue gave Channel a breakaway, and the first-year chipped the ball over Caso to put the Paladins up for good.
College of Charleston outshot the Bison 17-14 and Furman outshot them 9-7. The Bison only managed one corner kick to College of Charleston’s six, but had a 6-2 advantage against the Paladins.
The Bison led Saint Francis 1-0 on Wednesday before thunderstorms forced the game to be postponed 22 minutes in. Liberati scored the goal for the Orange and Blue off an assist from Brendan Burgdorf ’13.
The Bison (2-4-0) travel to Washington, D.C. to play American University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and return home to take on Drexel at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.