Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Field Hockey Earns First League Win, Defeating Lehigh, 2-1
10/11/2008 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 11, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell field hockey team earned its first conference win of the year in exciting fashion, coming from behind to defeat Lehigh, 2-1, at Graham Field at Holmes Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 11. Bison sophomore Kelly Bruvik (Skillman, N.J./Stuart Country Day) scored the game-winning goal following a Bucknell penalty corner with 1 minute, 27 seconds remaining in the second half. The Orange and Blue improve their record to 8-4 this season and 1-1 in Patriot League play, already equaling their total number of wins from last season.
The Mountain Hawks (3-9, 0-2 PL) received a strong goaltending effort from Lilia Stefaniwsky who faced a barrage of Bucknell shots in the first five minutes of the contest, but she turned them all away, including two consecutive attempts by Bruvik less than three minutes into the game. Stefaniwsky made seven saves in the game's first 35 minutes, and Lehigh entered halftime with a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal by Kalynn Davies at the 18:50 mark. Bison goalkeeper Jessie Atieh (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) made a save off an initial shot by the Mountain Hawks, but Davies gathered the rebound and was able to give her team a 1-0 lead.
Corinne Raczek (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) tied the game for the Bison, 13:45 into the second half. The sophomore took a pass from junior Sarah Ebright (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) on the near side of the field and dribbled it just inside the upper right side of the circle, where she unleashed a shot that finally was able to get past Stefaniwsky. For Raczek, it was her first career goal.
Bucknell really applied the pressure in the game's closing minutes, but the Lehigh defense held strong, until Bruvik gave the Bison their first lead of the game with 1:27 left showing on the clock. Christine Weiss (Bethlehem, Pa./Southern Lehigh) took the penalty corner for the Orange and Blue, and passed it into Raczek. Raczek stopped the ball for Amanda Faust (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West), who, on a designed play by Bison head coach Jeremy Cook, passed the ball down low to Bruvik on the right side of the goal cage. Bruvik was able to get off the shot and score the goal before the Mountain Hawks could get in front of her path to the goal.
Bruvik is now tied with Faust for the team lead in goals, each with seven. Raczek was credited with an assist on Bruvik's goal giving her 10 for the season. She has now tied the Bison's single-season record for assists in a season.
Bucknell will next play on Tuesday, Oct. 14, hosting Penn State in a non-conference game at Graham Field at Holmes Stadium. The game is set to start at 6 p.m., and will be available to watch live via Bison Vision at www.BucknellBison.com.
