Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
Bucknell Field Hockey Stumbles at American in 2-1 Loss in Regular-Season Finale
10/27/2012 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 27, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Kiersten Sydnor (Shippensburg, Pa./Mercersburg Academy) scored midway through the second half to tie the game, but American bounced back in a hurry to defeat Bucknell field hockey 2-1 at Jacobs Field on Saturday afternoon. The loss puts the Bison's regular-season record at 9-9 overall and 3-2 in the Patriot League and drops them to the No. 3 seed in next week's conference tournament where they will again face the No. 2 Eagles.
Saturday's decision had no impact on the matchup for the Patriot League Tournament as it had already been determined that Bucknell and American would square off in the semifinals. The only impact of the contest was that the Eagles take the higher seed at 9-9 overall and 4-1 in the league.
American took the early lead, scoring 13:38 into the game when Gina Hofmann shot a rebound past Bucknell keeper Erica Perrine (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan).
The 1-0 lead held until the second half when Sydnor received a pass from Kelly Stefanowicz (Landsdale, Pa./Mount St. Joseph Academy) on a penalty corner and netted her fifth goal of the season. That goal came 11:18 after halftime, but less than four minutes later the Bison found themselves in a hole again. Shelly Montgomery, who entered the day with a share of the Patriot League lead in goal scoring, made it 2-1 as Carly Atchison nabbed the assist.
Sydnor's goal snapped her 10-game scoreless streak. Heading into Saturday the freshman had last scored on Sept. 15 against Towson, when she netted two goals and registered her first career multi-goal game.
Bucknell and American went toe-to-toe in shots, finishing with nine apiece, and the Bison had the slightest edge in penalty corners at 4-3. The Eagles finished the game with three shots on goal, leaving Perrine (9-9) with one save. American goalkeeper Ashley Dalisera made five saves on the day in her win.
With their 9-9 overall record, the Bison have finished at .500 or better in the regular season for the first time since 2009. Bucknell was 12-6 that season before falling to Lafayette in the first round of postseason play.
Bucknell will be playing for another chance at Lafayette at the Patriot League Tournament, which runs Nov. 2-3 in Easton, Pa. While the Bison and the Eagles will square off in one semifinal, No. 1 Lafayette and No. 4 Colgate will meet in the other. Game times have yet to be determined.
