Men’s Soccer Hosts Bucknell and Fairleigh Dickinson This Weekend

ALBANY, N.Y.- The University at Albany men’s soccer team will host Bucknell on Friday, and will play its first game at Bob Ford Field against Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday. The Great Danes (0-3-1) most recently lost 2-0 at Iona on Tuesday. UAlbany recorded a 0-0 tie against Lehigh last weekend, and dropped two games in California on opening weekend. The Great Danes fell 3-0 to No. 25 Cal State Northridge and 2-1 to Cal State Fullerton. Bucknell visits UAlbany at Frank Bailey Field on the campus of Union College at 8 p.m., on Friday night. The Great Danes will face Fairleigh Dickinson at Bob Ford Field in the stadium’s first soccer match at 6 p.m., on Sunday. SCOUTING BUCKNELL: The Bison (2-2) are on a two-game winning streak after beating Buffalo 1-0 and La Salle 2-1 at home last week. The match against UAlbany is Bucknell’s first away game of the season. The Bison were picked to finish sixth in the Patriot League preseason poll. Senior Mayowa Alli was named Patriot League Player of the Week for the sixth time in his career last week. The defender was an All-Patriot League preseason selection. In 2011 he was named to the All-Patriot League first team as well as the All-Mid Atlantic team as a sophomore. Chris Thorsheim has scored four goals for the Bison this season. The sophomore midfielder was named to the All-Patriot League second team as a freshman. SCOUTING FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON: The Knights (4-0) return six players from last year’s NCAA third round squad. No. 22 Fairleigh Dickinson won the 2012 NEC Championship to punch its ticket to NCAA competition. The Knights lost to No. 5 North Carolina 1-0 in overtime, posting a record of 11-6-6 overall. Fairleigh Dickinson has yet to allow a goal in four games, and was picked to repeat as NEC champions in the preseason coaches poll. Senior Nicholas Walker was named to the MAC Herman Trophy Watch List in the preseason. The defender was an All-NEC first team, All-Tournament NEC and NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region first team selection a year ago.