Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Field Hockey Upset 3-2 in Overtime by Lafayette in PL Tournament
11/6/2009 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 6, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Christine Weiss (Bethlehem, Pa./Southern Lehigh) and Kelly Bruvik (Skillman, N.J./Stuart Country Day) both scored in the first half to give the second-seeded Bucknell field hockey team an early lead, but No. 3 Lafayette rallied in the end, defeating the Bison 3-2 in overtime in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals at Jacobs Field on Friday afternoon. Despite the loss, Bucknell finishes its year 12-7 overall, giving it back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1979-80.
Bucknell rushed out of the gates, taking a 1-0 advantage just over five minutes into the start of play. The Bison drew a penalty corner, and Weiss took advantage at 29:48. The goal off the corner, which was assisted by Corinne Raczek (Ocean Township, Pa./Ocean Township) and Morgan Kauffman (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor), was the seventh of the season for Weiss.
Raczek and Kauffman both move up the career records list with the assists. Raczek is now second with 27 helpers in three years, while Kauffman is fourth with 25.
The Bison's second goal was also made possible because of a corner. This time Weiss slipped a pass to Bruvik who put it past the Leopard's (14-5) keeper at the left post. Bruvik's score with 4:32 remaining in the first half was a team-leading eighth of the year.
Although Bucknell entered halftime with a comfortable lead, Lafayette had other ideas. The Leopards struck off their own penalty corner as Maria Machalick flicked the ball over Jessie Atieh's (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) shoulder to put her team on the board. Lafayette did not have to wait long for the game-tying goal as Meghan Cicchi scored less than 10 minutes later.
Both teams have had plenty of overtime experience this season as the Bison have found themselves in extra periods three times prior to the tournament matchup, while the Leopards have gone extra time in four games. This time it was Lafayette that pulled through, however, as Caitlin Titus netted the game winner after Bucknell turned it over in front of its own goal less than four minutes into overtime.
Despite little difference in the teams' shots on goal numbers – Lafayette finished with five, compared to Bucknell's four – the Leopards tallied nearly twice as many total shots as the Bison, 13-7. The Leopards' goalkeeper, Kelsey Andersen, needed just one save to preserve her team's chance to advance to Saturday' championship game.
In the earlier semifinal game, American defeated Lehigh 7-1. American and Lafayette will now face off for the tournament title at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.
