Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Field Hockey Clinches Postseason Berth with 2-1 Win Over Lehigh
10/16/2010 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 16, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell field hockey got back in the win column, defeating Lehigh 2-1 at Graham Field on Saturday afternoon. Kelly Bruvik (Skillman, N.J./Stuart Country Day) netted the deciding score with her team-leading seventh goal of the season as the Bison improved to 6-8 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League.
With the victory, Bucknell has claimed a spot in the Patriot League Tournament. The Bison needed a win plus some help from American and Lafayette today to clinch a berth in the postseason for the third consecutive year. They got just that as American defeated Colgate, 6-1, and Lafayette won over Holy Cross, 8-0.
Bruvik did her part to make sure Bucknell extended its season by rifling a shot past the Lehigh goalkeeper with 17:41 remaining in the game. The senior put the ball in the net by the left post, giving the Bison the 2-1 lead it needed for the win. Vickie Resh (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg Area) claimed the assist for her first point of the season.
Bruvik's goal also moved her into a tie for 10th all-time at Bucknell. She now has 23 scores in her career, equaling Bison Hall of Famer Almira Baldwin.
Bucknell's goal off Bruvik's stick was the only one to find the back of the net in the second half, but each team put a dent in the score in the first. Marci Richard (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) earned her second goal of the year at the 19:14 mark. Bucknell had drawn a penalty corner and, although the home team was unsuccessful off the initial scoring opportunity, Lehigh's Jessica Miller was unable to corral the rebound. Richard snagged the rebound off Christine Weiss' (Bethlehem, Pa./Southern Lehigh) shot and fired it past Miller to put the Bison up 1-0.
Lehigh (2-12, 0-3) tied the game just before halftime on a goal by Kimberly Eng. The score came at 4:33 as the sophomore received a pass in from the right side of the field and shot it low past Sarah Zargarpour (North Vancouver, Canada/Handsworth Secondary).
Eng had a shot at tying the game for a second time midway through the final stanza. She and Resh got into a foot race down field that ended just in front of the Bucknell goal. Eng eluded Resh as Zargarpour came out of the cage to challenge, but the Mountain Hawk made yet another move that got her past the last of the Bison defense. Eng finally put the ball in the net but was called for a foot violation, erasing the opportunity.
With the scare behind them, the Bison dominated down the stretch. Bucknell kept the ball in Lehigh's zone for a majority of the second half, eliminating any additional threats. At the end of the game, Bucknell had earned three times the shot attempts as its opponent, 15-5, and that included a 9-2 advantage in the second half.
Zargarpour claimed the win in goal for the Bison, bringing her season record to 6-7. The junior made three saves and allowed one goal. Miller took the loss for Lehigh, falling to 2-10 after making five saves but allowing both goals.
Bucknell will be back in action on Tuesday when it travels to University Park, Pa., to take on No. 11 Penn State. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. start.
