
Garkowski's Brace Lifts Bison Women's Soccer Past CSU Bakersfield, 3-1
9/14/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 14, 2012
MORAGA, Calif. -- Chelsey Garkowski scored two goals to help the Bucknell women's soccer team get out to a fast start at the Saint Mary's Tournament on Friday, as the Bison defeated CSU Bakersfield for their sixth win in their last seven outings. Cassie Denger also scored for Bucknell, which used 24 different players in the match.
Playing on the West Coast for the first time since 1999, the Bison and their five California natives built a 3-0 lead by the 63rd minute and were able to rest most of the starters in the second half. Bucknell will face tournament host Saint Mary's on Sunday at 5 p.m. (Eastern). That will be the team's fifth game in 10 days. The Gaels defeated UC Davis 1-0 in Friday's nightcap to improve to 4-3-1 on the season.
"This was a good team result," said coach Ben Landis, whose squad posted three goals in a match for the fourth time this season. "They were three great goals, where the assist was just as pretty as the finish. They got one on us late in the game when we had some different faces in there, but other than that the defense was solid. We have another tough opponent in Saint Mary's on Sunday, and we are looking forward to the challenge."
Despite the cross-country trip a day earlier, Bucknell had legs early the game and produced a goal just 4:37 after kickoff. CSU Bakersfield got caught playing a high back line, and Kayla Yee slipped a pass in behind them to Garkowski, who flipped a shot over the goalkeeper.
It was still 1-0 into the early portion of the second half, when the Bison added two more goals in a span of just 4:40. In the 58th minute, Liz Dwornik pulled a shot wide of target, but Denger kept on the play and was able to score from six yards out on the left side. Moments later Jenna Tryon sent a perfectly placed long ball into Garkowski, who pulled the keeper off her line and finished her second of the night and third of the season. It was Garkowski's first career multi-goal game, as she took over the team scoring lead with nine points.
Sam Pena pulled one back for the Roadrunners in the 80th minute, scoring against freshman goalkeeper Jessie Ashworth, who was making her collegiate debut. Starting keeper Sandita McDermott made six saves in 73:32 of action. Ashworth made her first two career saves in 12:33 of time, and sophomore Dana Calderone also made ger first collegiate appearance in the final 3:55.
CSU Bakersfield finished with a 22-8 shot advantage. All three of Bucknell's shots on goal went in the net.
Bucknell is now 6-3 on the season and has outscored foes 15-2 in the six wins.