Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Field Hockey Falls Short of Second Straight Upset, Drops 3-1 Decision to Lafayette in Patriot League Championship Game
11/5/2011 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 5, 2011
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mallory Smith (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) did her best to spark a comeback, scoring early in the second half, but Bucknell field hockey fell short of a second straight upset after defeating top-seeded American on Friday. The Bison's season ended with a 3-1 loss to No. 2-seeded Lafayette at Jacobs Field in the Patriot League Championship on Saturday afternoon, ending the campaign with an 8-12 record. Erica Perrine (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), Vickie Resh (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg Area) and Rachel Misko (Morristown, N.J./Madison) were all named to the All-Tournament Team at the end of play.
The game opened with both teams' defenses ruling play. It took nearly 15 minutes for either squad to register a shot, and at halftime both Bucknell and Lafayette had fired off just four attempts apiece. The Leopards' Deanna DiCroce accounted for the only offense, netting a goal with 2:28 left in the first. DiCroce deflected in a pass from Maria Machalick to break open the scoring.
Offense flowed more freely in the second half as Smith tied things up less than three minutes after play resumed. The senior took advantage of a defensive miscue and won the battle with goalkeeper Jessica Deutsch.
The 1-1 tie was short lived, however, as Lafayette scored just three minutes later. Kristin Heaney put a shot high over Perrine's head to give the Leopards back the lead.
The quick score from Lafayette took the wind out of Bucknell's sails briefly, but the Bison did their best to rebound quickly. Just as swiftly as the score went in the Leopards' favor, Bucknell turned up the heat and drew a pair of corners around the 18-minute mark. Bucknell got at least one shot off each time, first from Kelly Stefanowicz (Landsdale, Pa./Mount St. Joseph's Academy) and later from Tayler Siegrist (Madison, N.J./Madison), but neither found the back of the net.
Heaney's score turned out to be the game winner, although DiCroce added an insurance goal with 13:43 left on the clock. Bucknell then made a final push, pulling its goalie with 3:54 left in the game. The strategy did not pay off, however, as Lafayette kept the ball in the zone for almost the rest of play.
After pulling off one the biggest upsets of the year with its 3-2 win over No. 1 American, Bucknell was unable to make lightning strike twice. The comeback bid fell short, and the Bison lost to the Leopards for the second time this season.
Deutsch earned the win with five saves and one goal allowed. Perrine took the loss with two saves in 66:06 played.
Also being named to the All-Tournament Team were Lafayette's Emily Valeo, Brittany Blass, DiCroce, and Carolyn Cabrey. Cabrey was named Tournament MVP. American's Natalie Ellenberger and Melissa Casale, and Lehigh's Kim Eng and Sierra Segear were also honored.
Lafayette now moves on to the NCAA Play-In game against Ohio, the winner of the Mid-American Conference Champion, on Nov. 8.
