Bucknell University
American
American Spoils Senior Day for Bison Women's Soccer Team, 1-0
10/13/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 13, 2012
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LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Jasmine Mohandesi scored the game's only goal in the 25th minute, and American survived some tense moments down the stretch to hold off Bucknell 1-0 in a Patriot League women's soccer match Saturday afternoon at Emmitt Field. The Bison fell to 9-7 overall and 2-2 in the Patriot League, while the Eagles improved to 5-8-2, 3-1 and pulled within one point of the league lead with their third straight league shutout.
For Bucknell the afternoon started with Senior Day festivities honoring the team's seven seniors, but the game itself was marked with frustration. The Bison were on their heels early and conceded a goal midway through the first half, and then they turned up the pressure in the second half but just could not finish some good chances.
The Eagles had more of the ball in the opening half-hour, and they were rewarded at the 24:05 mark with Mohandesi's fourth goal of the season. Bucknell tried to clear a ball out of the penalty area, but it only got as far as Michaela Cowgill just outside the 18. Cowgill headed the ball back in to Michelle Montillo, who played it wide to right side to Mohandesi. Her low shot back across the grain from 12 yards out skidded into the left side of the goal.
American outshot Bucknell 8-3 in the first half, but the Bison exerted much more pressure after the break. Eagles goalkeeper Charlene Belanger came up big when needed, as she made six of her seven saves in the second period. And that does not include her toughest stop of the day, a diving save off the foot of her own teammate to prevent an own goal on a Bucknell corner kick.
That came 12 minutes into the second half, and then just two minutes later Liz Dwornik's pass got though a defender and Taryn Boucher found herself in alone on goal, but Belanger made a kick save and the Bison could not get a foot on the rebound.
Bucknell put a couple of dangerous crosses into the area and had and two deep free kicks, but nothing came of them. The Bison's final chance came on a penalty kick with 5:23 left. Dwornik made a terrific move to corral a pass and spin around a defender to get herself into space in the penalty area, and eventually she was pushed from behind by an Eagles defender. Kayla Yee, who converted a penalty kick earlier this year against Mount St. Mary's, had this one sail on her and it went high over the crossbar.
American was able to keep possession for most of the last four minutes and ran out the clock.
"Give credit to American, they worked hard and in the first half they were able to play how they wanted and got us to play their style," said coach Ben Landis. "In the second half we were able to turn the tables and get more into our style. In the end they converted their best chance of the day and we were not able to convert on three or four good chances. It is disappointing because it is Senior Day, but this is not our last day. We will regroup and get ready for Lehigh."
The Bison finished with a 14-12 shot advantage and an 8-2 edge in corner kicks. Goalkeeper Sandita McDermott made three saves.
The Bison finish the season with a 7-3 home record, and now they have three in a row on the road to wrap up the regular season. Bucknell will be at Lehigh next Friday at 7 p.m.
