Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Towson
Siegrist, Defense Carry Bucknell Field Hockey Past Towson, 6-0
9/15/2012 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 15, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Senior Tayler Siegrist recorded a career-high six points on two goals and two assists, all coming on Bucknell's first four goals of the day, as Bucknell rolled to an emphatic 6-0 victory over Towson on Saturday at Graham Field. Kiersten Sydnor also had a pair of goals for the Bison, who have now won five of their last six games to improve to 5-2 on the season.
Bucknell led 1-0 at the half after outshooting Towson 10-0, then the Bison scored five times on 10 shots in the second period to put the game away.
The first-half goal came on Siegrist's penalty stroke at 24:01, after Towson goalkeeper Tashani Dickson covered up the ball in the crease. Siegrist fired the penalty stroke just inside the right post for her second goal of the year.
The Bison could not convert on any of their five first-half penalty corners, but it was a different story in the second half when they cashed in on three in a row. Bucknell's second and third goals came just 4:10 apart on identical corner plays, with Siegrist setting up a teammate for a deflection at the right post. First it was Leigh Hillman scoring her first goal of the year at the 42:22 mark, and then moments later the freshman Sydnor added her third of the campaign to make it a 3-0 game.
In the 61st minute, Siegrist took the shot herself on a penalty corner, firing a laser past Dickson for her second of the day, assisted by Kelsey Mucelli and Amie Pritchard.
Bucknell added two more in the final 1:10, the first coming from Rachel Misko, who now has a team-high four goals on the season. Maggie Murphy sent a ball into the circle that Misko deflected in, and then in the final few seconds Misko launched a pretty backhanded shot that Sydnor tipped in to finish the scoring.
"I thought we played a great, disciplined game," said head coach Jeremy Cook afterward. "We were really focused on trying to limit their counterattack, and we did a great job with that. Our defensive structure was good and we were able to build the ball out of the back. A key for us all week has been trying to be relentless. We have been generating plenty of shots but not as many goals, and today we shot a much higher percentage. It is great to get that payback for our effort."
The Bison ended up with a 20-4 shot advantage in the game. Goalkeeper Erica Perrine had a strong day, even though she did not see much action. When it was still a 1-0 game in the first half, she wisely came off her line to break up what would have been a breakaway opportunity. Towson's first shot of the day came 4:25 into the second half, as Perrine steered aside a shot from Courtney Branco. A few moments later Perrine made another save on Megan Penza on a penalty corner.
Perrine finished with two saves in her first shutout of the season, while Dickson had four stops for Towson (0-6).
Bucknell will now have a short rest period before hosting Ohio State on Sunday morning.
"Ohio State is a great team with some seriously talented players," said Cook. "Today was a great confidence-builder for us, and if we can carry today's goal-scoring into tomorrow, we will have a great chance. We are looking forward to it."
The Bison and Buckeyes square off at 10 a.m. Sunday at Graham Field. The game will be carried live on Bison Vision at BucknellBison.com.
