Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bucknell Field Hockey Falls to Holy Cross, Still Clinches Tournament Berth
11/1/2008 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 1, 2008
WORCESTER, Mass. - The Bucknell field hockey team lost its final game of the regular season, 3-2, to Holy Cross in double overtime in Worcester, Mass., on Saturday, Nov. 1. However, the team still clinched the No. 3 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, as Lafayette defeated Colgate, 2-0. The Bison (10-7, 2-3 PL) will battle the Leopards (11-7, 4-1 PL) on Friday, Nov. 7, in Washington, D.C., in the tournament semifinals. American is the No. 1 seed and host of the tournament. The Eagles will play Colgate on Friday, as well.
The Bison fell behind early to the Crusaders, as Holy Cross's Alanna Sikorski scored a goal off of a penalty corner two minutes, 14 seconds into the game. The Crusaders tacked on a second early goal, 9:29 into the opening half, and Bucknell would face an uphill climb the rest of the way.
Bison senior Katie Ruiz (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) scored her sixth goal of the season, 3:48 into the second half, on a scramble in front of the net, cutting Holy Cross's lead in half. Not quite 10 minutes later, Ruiz's classmate, Emily Hutchison (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley), scored her first goal of the season on a penalty stroke to tie the score. Regulation ended with the score still knotted at two, despite the Bison holding a 16-5 advantage in shots.
Bucknell outshot the Crusaders 5-3 in the first overtime, but Crusaders' goalkeeper Erin Singleton made three saves to keep the score tied. Holy Cross managed the first and only shot of the second overtime, as Kristin Schultz was able to get one past Bison goalie Jessie Atieh (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) just 34 seconds into the frame.
For the game, Bucknell outshot Holy Cross 21-9, but the Crusaders had 10 penalty corners compared to nine for the Bison. Singleton made 11 saves for Holy Cross, while Atieh had two for the Bison.
Game times for the Patriot League Tournament have not yet been announced. Bucknell last appeared in the tournament in 2006.
