Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
Bucknell Field Hockey Shut Out by American, 3-0
10/17/2009 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 17, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell field hockey dropped its first home game of the season, falling 3-0 to American at Graham Field Saturday morning. The Bison (8-6, 2-1) played well but the Eagles' (7-6, 3-0) pair of first-half goals proved to be too much to overcome in the battle for the Patriot League's first-place position.
American fired out of the gates and scored its first goal before Bucknell really had a chance to get a handle on the game. The Eagles' Christine Fingerhooth drove between her Bison defenders from the end line to put the first notch on the scoreboard at 3:01.
The Eagles' first shot of the day resulted in a score as did their second shot. Savannah Graybill scored in the final minutes of the first frame. The tally came in the middle of traffic in front of the net. The forward put the ball in the back of the net off a failed clear.
The Bison came out aggressively in the second half, refusing to let the two-goal deficit discourage them. The team played solid defense throughout the final 35:00, but a brief hiccup with just over three minutes to play handed American their final goal of the day. Melissa Casale got a lucky deflection in front of the net to redirect the ball past Bucknell goalkeeper Jessie Atieh.
With the win, American takes sole possession of first place in the Patriot League, while Bucknell falls to second.
The Eagles' goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman recorded the shutout with one save. Mallory Smith (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) earned that shot on goal, while Christine Weiss fired in two shots, both on penalty corners.
Bucknell will not have to wait long to get back on the field and return to their winning ways. The Bison will take on Georgetown at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Graham Field.
