Bucknell University
Penn
Bucknell Downs Penn 2-1 in Home Opener
9/15/2013 9:04:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. -�Leigh Hillman�scored the tiebreaking goal with 17:55 remaining to lift the Bucknell field hockey team to a 2-1 win over previously unbeaten Penn in the Bison's home opener on Sunday afternoon at Graham Field.�Abby Watson�also scored for the Bison, who dominated possession for 70 minutes and finished with a 21-2 shot advantage.
Bucknell improved to 3-3 on the season with the Patriot League opener against Lehigh next up on the schedule. Penn came into the game with a 2-0 record, scoring five goals in each game against Lehigh and Saint Joseph's.
After opening the year with five straight road games, the Bison put the pressure on the Quakers right from the start. Just 8:49 into the contest Bucknell got on the board. Central defender�Liz Wills�sent a pass to�Rachel Misko�inside the circle. Misko carried the ball wide to the right side and feathered a lofted pass through the crease, where Watson was waiting on the back side to bat it in out of the air.
Bucknell outshot Penn 8-0 in the first half and only saw the ball enter its own circle one time, but the Quakers fought off four penalty corners and were able it a 1-0 game. That proved big when Penn hit the back of the cage on its very first shot of the day just 49 seconds into the second half. Elise Tilton took a pass inside the circle with her back to the goal, then spun and scored on a high shot to even the match at 1-1.
It stayed 1-1 into the 53rd minute when Bucknell did cash in on a penalty corner.�Maggie Murphy�inserted the ball to�Kelsey Mucelli�on the left wing. Mucelli passed right back to Murphy, whose centering pass went through a few fallen bodies to Hillman on the back post. The goal was Hillman's team-leading fourth of the season.
Hillman almost had another goal just after the resumption of play. Her shot leaked through the pads of goalie Carly Sokach, and Julie Tahan cleared it off the goal line.
The Bison had to dodge one last bullet with about 2:40 remaining when the Quakers countered off a Bucknell penalty corner attempt. Emily Corcoran had a clear breakaway, but her shot missed wide to the right.
In addition to the 21-2 edge in shots, Bucknell led 10-0 in corners. Sokach kept the Quakers in it with 11 saves.
"The way we were able to control the tempo was great," said head coach�Jeremy Cook�afterward. "We had some frustrations, but I was pleased with how we fought through that and found a way to get goal when we needed it. This Penn team played shot-for-shot with Lehigh and came in with a lot of confidence. Our ability to set the tempo at the beginning of the game was the difference."
This was the first of four straight home games for the Bison. Next Saturday they open Patriot League play against Lehigh at 11 a.m. in a match that will be webcast live on Bison Vision on the Patriot League Network.�
