Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bucknell Women's Soccer Takes over First Place After 3-1 Win at Holy Cross
10/25/2009 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 25, 2009
WORCESTER, Mass. - The Bucknell women's soccer team took control of the Patriot League race on Sunday, as a 3-1 win at Holy Cross coupled with American's 2-0 loss to Lehigh left the Bison alone in first place with just one game remaining in the regular season. Christa Matlack (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) keyed Bucknell's fifth straight victory with a pair of goals, her fourth two-goal performance in the last seven games.
Bucknell is now 10-6-1 overall and 5-1-0 in the Patriot League. The Bison, who reached the 10-win plateau for the fifth year in a row, now have 15 standings points. American, who began the day tied with the Bison atop the Patriot League table, fell into third place with 12 points. Navy now has 13 points after routing Lafayette 4-0, and Colgate can get to 13 as well with a win over Army later in the day.
Bucknell travels to Colgate next Saturday and would be able to lock up the regular-season title and home-field advantage in the Patriot League Tournament with a victory.
Matlack wasted little time getting the Bison going against a Holy Cross team that is in the midst of a solid turnaround season. Just 2:53 into the contest, Matlack bounced a shot off a Holy Cross defender, gathered her own rebound and scored past Jessica Stone to make it 1-0.
The Crusaders replied in the 10th minute, as Shelby Stand momentarily took over the Patriot League goal-scoring lead with her ninth of the season, finishing a feed nice from Katherine Donnelly.
Later in the first half, defender Lauren Stoller (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) sent a pass ahead to Chelsea McGorry (Charlton, Mass./Shepherd Hill Regional), who beat a defender and scored with a low shot into the right side of the net.
Holy Cross changed keepers in the second half, turning to Mary Ferketic, but she could not slow down the red-hot Matlack either. Matlack tied Stand with her ninth goal of the year in the 51st minute. Stoller sent a ball out of the back to Caitlin Holtz (Freehold, N.J./The Peddie School), who passed to Matlack for a key insurance goal.
Bucknell finished with a 15-8 shot advantage, including an 8-3 edge in shots on goal. Kathryn Sutton (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) was only called upon for two saves in the game, while the two Crusaders keepers combined for five saves.
The Bison dropped their Patriot League opener at American back on Oct. 3, but since then they have won all five games by a combined margin of 12-3. Since being shut out in back-to-back games by VCU and Penn State late in September, Bucknell has scored in all seven games since, totaling 17 goals in those seven matches.
Matlack reached the 25-goal and 60-point marks in her career, while her nine goals this season are a new career high. She scored eight goals in each of her first two seasons.
Bucknell has now won five straight over the Crusaders, who had been 4-2-3 at home this season. Holy Cross was 4-14-1 last season but was over .500 at 7-6-3 before being swept by Bucknell and Colgate this weekend.
Bucknell and Colgate will meet at 4 p.m. in Hamilton, N.Y., next Saturday. The Bison are assured of playing in the Patriot League Tournament on Nov. 6 and 8, but they will be seeking to host the tournament for the third time in the last four years.
