Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
No. 4 Bucknell Field Hockey Knocks No. 1 American Out of Patriot League Tournament with 3-2 Win
11/4/2011 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 4, 2011
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Fourth-seeded Bucknell field hockey handed top-seeded American its first Patriot League Tournament loss since 2002 and claimed its first-ever win in Washington, D.C., when it defeated the Eagles 3-2 in the conference semifinals on Friday afternoon. Tayler Siegrist (Madison, N.J./Madison) scored twice, including netting the game-winner with 3:10 left in the contest to send the Bison to their first Patriot League Championship game since 2008.
Bucknell will face the winner of No. 2 Lafayette vs. No. 3 Lehigh, which will be played at 2 p.m. today. The championship game is slated for 1 p.m. tomorrow in Washington, D.C.
The Bison (8-11) led for most of the game before the Eagles (9-8) tied things up with 8:41 remaining. A 2-0 Bucknell lead at halftime was erased in the final frame after scores from Jen Bradley and Jaclyn Anspach, but the Bison kept their composure down the stretch. Siegrist cashed in on a penalty corner with just over three minutes left of the clock.
Marci Richard (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) and Mallory Smith (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) earned the assists on Murphy's goal. With 13 career assists, Richard is now tied for ninth in program history.
All three of Bucknell's goals were the result of penalty corner opportunities, although American had the edge in the stat, 9-7, at the final horn. Hillman scored first off a rebound. The Bison got a shot off on what was their fourth corner of the half and, although that attempt was off line, the sophomore corralled the rebound at the right post and put it past the American goalkeeper Stephanie Burry for her first career goal.
Bucknell extended its first-half lead to two goals a few minutes later at 7:05 as Siegrist benefited from the penalty corner. After making the initial stick stop from Smith, Richard got the ball to Siegrist's stick who put it in the back of the net for the 2-0 advantage. It was Siegrist's first career multi-goal game.
Bucknell played about as well as could be expected in the first half. It then had to keep up its strong defense in the second to keep pace with American as the home team upped its attack. Six of the Eagles' nine penalty corners, and 12 of their 22 shots, came in the second half. The Bison drew just two corners and fired off three shots during the same stretch.
Erica Perrine (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) made several key plays, especially late as the Eagles earned a penalty corner with less than a minute to play. The Bucknell goalkeeper turned away shot attempt after shot attempt in the final seconds to hang on to the win.
American's second-half offensive barrage was similar to how the teams' regular-season meeting developed. Bucknell took an early lead in that contest as well, and despite a spirited attack from the Eagles late in the game, the Bison held them off. Bucknell won 3-1 at Graham Field on Oct. 22.
The Bison are the first Patriot League team since 2002 to defeat the Eagles twice in a single season. The last squad to do so was Holy Cross, which won 3-2 in Worcester, Mass., during the regular season. The Crusaders then defeated third-seeded American 1-0 in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals that fall.
Earning the win in goal for the Bison was Perrine. The sophomore, who was named Second Team All-Patriot League earlier this week, made eight saves and improved her season record to 8-8. Burry took the loss after making three saves and allowing all three goals.
Bucknell is now 5-17 all-time against American with the first three wins coming in 2001 and before.
The Bison will look for a bit of revenge in their next contest regardless of the opponent. In regular-season play, Bucknell lost 1-0 to Lehigh and 5-3 to Lafayette. The last time Bucknell played in a Patriot League Championship game was in 2008 when it lost to American. The Bison have never won a Patriot League Tournament title.
