Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Cornell
Stefanowicz, Misko Score Late to Propel Bucknell Field Hockey in 2-1 Win Over Cornell
9/5/2012 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell field hockey dominated in shots and penalty corners, but the Bison still needed a comeback effort for the 2-1 win over Cornell at Graham Field on Wednesday night. Kelly Stefanowicz (Lansdale, Pa./Mount St. Joseph's Academy) and Rachel Misko (Morristown, N.J./Madison) scored late to push Bucknell (3-1) past the Big Red and record its third straight victory in the early season.
Bucknell finished the game with 26 shots and 19 penalty corners, while Cornell (0-3) came in at six shots and three corners. The Big Red scored on their second shot of the game, but it came nearly five minutes into the second half. The Bison had maintained control throughout play, taking the main share of possession time and getting more offensive opportunities than its opponent, but Kat DiPastina's goal put Bucknell in catch-up mode for the first time on the night
Twenty minutes later, the Bison got the break they had been looking for. On their 10th corner of the half, they finally were able to get the ball in the net. Stefanowicz fired in a shot from the top of the circle and got a fortunate deflection off a defender to knot things up at a goal apiece.
With only 10 minutes to play, Bucknell went into hurry-up mode trying to avoid another overtime bout. The frenzied pace paid off as Misko netted her second goal of the season on a breakaway with only 4:37 to go. The junior received a pass from Maggie Murphy (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus), who had carried the ball nearly the length of the right sideline before dishing it into Misko right in front of the net.
Misko is now tied with Kiersten Sydnor (Shippensburg, Pa./Mercersburg Academy) for the team lead in goals with two apiece this season. The score also resulted in Murphy's first assist of the year.
With just a one-goal lead, Bucknell was not in the clear just yet. Cornell was able to make another offensive run, at one point getting an attacker ahead of the defense. Bison goalkeeper Erica Perrine (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) put an end to that hope as she charged forward Hannah Balleza and made a sliding body stop to keep the Orange and Blue in front with 1:08 remaining on the clock.
Perrine (3-1) finished with three saves and one goal allowed. The junior now has 11 career wins, moving hr into sole possession of 11th on Bucknell's all-time list. Cornell keeper Carolyn Horner (0-2) made 10 saves and allowed two goals in the loss.
Prior to the game, Bucknell officially dedicated the new Graham Field scoreboard the Margaret "Peg" Bryan Memorial Scoreboard. Peg Bryan was a member of the Bucknell faculty for 36 years and was the first director of women's intercollegiate athletics at Bucknell. She was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.
Bucknell has now won three straight games, all by two goals or less. The Bison will look to make it four consecutive victories on Saturday when they return to the road for a 1 p.m. contest at Columbia. Action returns to Graham Field at 2 p.m. on Sunday when Bucknell squares off with Saint Francis (Pa.).
