Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Duquesne
Duquesne Holds off Bison Charge for 2-1 Women's Soccer Win
9/3/2010 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 3, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Trailing 2-1 midway through the second half, the Bucknell women's soccer team lobbed an all-out assault on the Duquesne goal but just could not get one past Dukes keeper Gabby Morrin, and the Bison dropped their home opener by that score on a warm, muggy night at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium. Christa Matlack (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) scored Bucknell's goal in the 22nd minute, but Lauren Ott answered with the go-ahead tally less than five minutes later to help Duquesne improve to 2-2-1.
Bucknell thought for sure it had broken the ice just 30 seconds into the game when it had a three-on-the-goalkeeper breakaway, but Morrin darted out to take the ball off Matlack's foot before she could make a move. That proved big just a few minutes later when Duquesne was awarded a free kick just outside the 18. Kristin Visnicky fired a low shot that redirected off a Bucknell defender, giving keeper Colleen Garrehy (Danville, Calif./Carondelet) no chance to stop it from going in.
The Bison played numerous balls over and through the defense throughout the night, and a nifty pass from Kelliann Doherty (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) set up the equalizer. Doherty had just taken a feed from Casey Crowley (Hamilton Square, Pa./Peddie School) from the right sideline, and she chipped it over the head of a defender to Matlack, who settled the ball and blasted home her second goal of the season. It was also Matlack's 27th career goal, moving her into sole possession of seventh place on Bucknell's career list.
Freshman Liz Dwornik (Endwell, N.Y./Union Endicott), who was dangerous all evening in her first career start, was robbed by Morrin about three minutes later. Then as the ball was sent out to midfield, Duquesne reserve Stephanie Colon won a 50-50 ball, started toward the Bucknell goal and played a through pass ahead to Ott. After a few touches, Ott sent a high shot off the fingertips of Garrehy and then off the underside of the crossbar and in.
Inside nine minutes remaining in the first half, the Bison had a three-shot flurry, but Morrin made bookend saves around a close shot that was blocked by the defense. Bucknell really turned up the heat in the second half, when it outshot Duquesne 11-3. Most of those looks came in a 15-minute stretch that started with about 24 minutes to play when Dwornik just missed coming in from the left side.
Just after that Megan DeGennaro (Westlake Village, Calif./La Reina) had a hard shot steered away at the near post, and on the ensuing corner kick Caitlin Holtz (Freehold, N.J./Peddie School) just missed connecting with Brooke Stokes (Gladwyne, Pa./Shipley School).
In the 71st minute Matlack almost got in after a perfectly weighted pass from Stokes, but again Morrin came off her line to break up the play. Three minutes later Morrin made a lunging save on Dwornik, and only a minute after that Dwornik rang a shot solidly off the crossbar.
Bucknell's last good chance came with about 9:30 left, when Morrin had to reach high to tip a Matlack shot over the bar. Duquesne cleared away the corner kick, then effectively kept the ball in the Bucknell half for most of the last eight minutes.
Bucknell finished with a 20-9 total shot advantage, including a 12-5 edge in shots on goal, but Morrin finished with 11 saves. Garrehy made two saves in the opening half, and then Sandita McDermott (Rhinebeck, N.Y./Red Hook) took over the second period and made one save in 45 scoreless minutes.
Now 1-3 on the season, the Bison will be back at home on Sunday, taking on 24th-ranked Rutgers at 2 p.m.
