Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy
Bucknell Women's Soccer Season Ends After 1-0 Loss to Navy
10/30/2011 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2011
SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Ashlynn Soellner's 11th-minute goal propelled Navy to a 1-0 victory over Bucknell on Sunday at Susquehanna's Sassafras Field, sending the Midshipmen into the Patriot League Tournament while eliminating the Bison from the postseason. Bucknell's streak of six straight postseason appearances came to an end, and the Bison finish the 2011 campaign with a record of 5-10-1 overall and 3-4-0 in the Patriot League.
These two teams tried to play Saturday at Emmitt Field, but a rare October snowstorm forced the contest to be suspended nine minutes in. With Bucknell's grass field still snow-covered, the contest was moved to the FieldTurf facility at nearby Susquehanna University. It was a critical match, with the winner claiming the fourth and final Patriot League Tournament bid.
With two strong defensive teams going at it, there were very few quality scoring chances. Navy did cash in on their best chance of the day when Soellner headed the ball over to Sam Lee and then got the ball back for a shot from 15 yards out that found the back of the net.
Other than that one slip in their own box, the Bison defended very well, allowing only 12 total shots and just five on frame. Sandita McDermott (Rhinebeck, N.Y./Red Hook) made four saves in goal, all of them from distance.
But while Bucknell played Navy evenly in the central third of the field, the Bison just couldn't get anything going offensively. They did not have a shot on frame in the first half, and Navy keeper Alexes Lopez-Shaw's only save came on a partially deflected shot that bounced in on goal.
Bucknell did have a couple of dangerous free kicks from the Navy half of the field in the final 10 minutes of play. On the second one, with just over six minutes remaining, a Bucknell player poked a loose ball toward the right post, but Navy's Emily Wilkin was on the goal line to steer the ball away, and then nothing came of the ensuing corner kick.
Navy finished with a 12-6 overall shot advantage, while the Bison led 7-4 in corner kicks.
McDermott finished her junior season with a 1.14 goals-against average, the third-best in program history. As a team, the Bison conceded only 19 goals this season, 16 fewer than last year and the second-fewest in program history. Only the 2006 team, with 18 goals allowed in 18 games, had a better team GAA than the 2011 squad.
Sunday's game marked the final appearance in Orange & Blue for Bucknell's four seniors: Sadie Canter, Tara Cort, Casey Crowley and Megan DeGennaro. The Bison will return eight starters in 2012.
