Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Remains Undefeated in Patriot League with 2-1 Win over Lafayette
10/5/2013 3:11:00 PM | Field Hockey
EASTON, Pa. – The Bucknell field hockey team jumped out to an early lead and fought off a comeback attempt by Lafayette late in the game to earn a 2-1 win over the defending Patriot League champions on Saturday. This marks the first time that the Bison have defeated the Leopards since Oct. 3, 2009, and is their first victory on Rappolt Field in over 13 years, with their last win coming on Sept. 23, 2000. With today's strong performance, Bucknell moves to 6-4 overall and 3-0 in the Patriot League, while Lafayette drops to 4-7 and 1-1 in conference play.
Two goals in less than two minutes helped the Bison jump out to a 2-0 lead at just 5:12 into the first half, and strong defensive play on the field and in the cage held the Leopards at bay, sending Bucknell into halftime with a two-goal advantage.
“We got off to a really great start and that won the game for us,” said head coach Jeremy Cook. “We were nervous coming in because we know that Lafayette is always strong early in the game, but we made that one of our focal points this week and it made a huge difference in how we played today.”
Junior Liz Wills opened up scoring in the aftermath of the game's first penalty corner, connecting on a rebound to score her first career goal and give Bucknell a quick, 1-0 lead over Lafayette. Less than two minutes later, senior Rachel Misko collected a loose ball on the left side of the field and put it away for her sixth goal of the season, as the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week increased the Bison advantage to two.
The last 30 minutes of the stanza saw Lafayette dial up its offensive efforts while Bucknell buckled down on its defense, denying the Leopards on five penalty corners. Lafayette took six shots in the first to Bucknell's four, while the Bison goalkeeper, senior Erica Perrine, made four saves to send her team into halftime with the lead.
The teams engaged in a defensive battle for the first 28 minutes of the second half, with each squad allowed just two shots on goal, but as the clock wound down, the Leopards found a way to sneak one past Perrine. Action began on a Lafayette penalty corner, and Kelsey Gula was able to deflect a shot into the net, bringing the Leopards within one of the Bison with 6:11 left to play. Jenna Seybert and Kirby Szalkowski were credited with the assists on the goal.
Bucknell stifled any hope of a comeback however, allowing Lafayette just one shot in the final minutes of play to preserve the 2-1 win.
“Our first half was wonderful,” said Cook, “and we held on through a lot of offensive pressure in the second to clinch the win. Liz, who usually handles a lot of the defensive pressure for us, scored her first career goal today, and that was a great moment in a great win.”
The Leopards outshot the Bison, 10-6, as each team relied strongly on defensive play throughout 70 minutes of action. Perrine stopped four shots, while Lafayette's Jessica Deutsch prevented just two attempts on her goal.
As Patriot League play continues to pick up, their win over the Leopards keeps the Bison tied for first with American in the conference standings. The Eagles earned a 3-2 win over Colgate on Saturday afternoon, also moving to 3-0 in league play.
Bucknell returns to action on Sunday afternoon with its second road game of the weekend, as the Bison will take on the No. 18 Temple Owls in Philadelphia at 1 p.m.
