Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Loyola (Md.)
Bucknell Women's Soccer Settles for 2-2 Tie with Loyola (Md.)
9/21/2008 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 21, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell's high-scoring tandem of Jennifer Dervarics (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) and Christa Matlack (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport Area) teamed up on a pair of first half goals, but visiting Loyola (Md.) rallied with two scores of their own to claim a 2-2 tie on Sunday afternoon at Varsity Soccer Field.
Amanda Piccirilli's tough save on Kelly Boswell (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) was the lone bit of excitement in an opening 20 minutes that was played primarily in the center of the field, but Bucknell broke through in the 22nd minute on a bit of magic from Dervarics and Matlack. Matlack passed to Dervarics at the top of the penalty box, and with a fancy bit of dribbling Dervarics maneuvered around a defender and played a nice ball back to Matlack in front for an easy finish and a 1-0 lead.
In the 34th minute, Matlack took a hard shot from the right side that Piccirilli got a hand on but could not control, and Dervarics was right there for the rebound and her Patriot League-leading seventh goal of the season.
Loyola (0-5-2), the reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion, got right back in the contest six minutes later when Theresa Ferraina played a long pass into the box and Kristina Balfoort volleyed it out of the air into the upper right corner of the goal.
Bucknell struggled a bit in its own end in the second half, and the Greyhounds finally took advantage in the 80th minute when Lea Day found Ferraina all alone at the top of the 6-yard box for her team-leading third tally of the season.
Bucknell came alive just after losing its grasp on the lead and generated a number of good scoring chances late in regulation. With about seven minutes left Dervarics flicked a header backwards towards the Loyola goal, connecting with Matlack in stride. Matlack had space for a moment as she dribbled into the box, but a sliding defender got a toe on her shot and deflected it wide.
With 5:20 to play, Piccirilli made her best save of the night, a diving stop on Dervarics drive from the right side.
Loyola outshot Bucknell 6-2 in overtime, although neither team came overly close to scoring the sudden-death goal. Bison keeper Kathryn Sutton (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) making two of her three saves in the extra periods. Piccirilli finished with six saves.
Shots for the game were even at 17, while Bucknell had five corner kicks to Loyola's two.
Darvarics' goal was her 31st of her career, moving her into sole possession of fourth place on Bucknell's career list. Next up is 2007 graduate Krista Lee Gentile with 34. Dervarics also tied Kerry McDonnell for fourth place on Bucknell's career points list with 76.
The Bison will be back in action on Friday night at home against Robert Morris at 7 p.m.
