Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Women's Soccer Season Ends with 1-0 Loss to Lehigh in PL Semifinals
11/5/2010 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 5, 2010
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Natalie Hojnacki scored on a 16-yard shot 14 minutes into the second half, leading No. 3 Lehigh to a 1-0 win over No. 2 Bucknell in a Patriot League Tournament semifinal game Saturday night at Army's Clinton Field. The Mountain Hawks advance to face Army in Sunday's championship match, while Bucknell's season comes to an end.
It was an evenly matched game throughout, with both defenses doing well to keep the ball out of harm's way. Lehigh (10-4-4) did have a goal waved off on an offside call in the first half, while Bucknell had a good chance on a Caitlin Holtz (Freehold, N.J./Peddie School) free kick from the left side of the box, but Lauren Mains made the save at the far post.
Still scoreless into the second stanza, the Bison (7-13) applied good pressure early in the half. They nearly had a goal when Mains scooped up a ball in traffic right at the goal line and appeared to fall back into the goal, but a Bucknell player was called for a push and a free kick was awarded. About seven minutes later Megan DeGennaro (Westlake Village, Calif./La Reina) ripped a low shot just wide of the left post.
After the ensuing goal kick, Lehigh broke the deadlock when Lena Cannon sent a long service to Hojnacki at the top of the 18. Hojnacki was able to settle and turn to her left, where she found space to launch a shot into the right side of the net.
Only three minutes after conceding the goal, midfielder Tara Cort (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) was taken down just outside the penalty area. Holtz took the free kick from a dangerous spot, but it just sailed over the crossbar.
Bucknell sent plenty of crosses into the box the rest of the way, many from Brooke Stokes (Gladwyne, Pa./Shipley School), who had a good game on the right side, but none could connect.
The Bison outshot Lehigh 13-5 in the second half and 18-14 for the game. Mains finished with eight saves for the Mountain Hawks, while Bucknell's Sandita McDermott (Rhinebeck, N.Y./Red Hook) had six.
The Bison were appearing in the Patriot League Tournament for the sixth consecutive year, the longest streak in the league, but they were denied a fourth appearance in the championship game.
The loss marked the final game for seven outstanding seniors. The class of Amanda Citron, Kelliann Doherty, Julianne Harris, Holtz, Kelsey Johnson, Christa Matlack and Brooke Stokes finished with 39 wins, fourth-most in program history. In Patriot League regular-season play, the class finished first twice and second twice. Matlack graduates ranked fifth in Bucknell history in goals (32) and points (78).
