Bucknell University
Missouri State
Bucknell Field Hockey Explodes for Five First-Half Goals in 5-1 Win Over Missouri State
9/7/2013 12:41:00 PM | Field Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sophomore Kiersten Sydnor registered her second career two-goal game and dished out an assist, while Rachel Misko, Hope Obernesser and Emma Fitzgerald netted single goals to lead the Bucknell field hockey team to a 5-1 win over Missouri State Saturday afternoon at Buckeye Varsity Field. The Bison scored all five of their goals in the first half as they picked up their first win of the year.
Bucknell (1-2) dominated the game statistically, especially in the first half. The Bison outshot the Bears 14-4 in the first 35 minutes, and 19-8 overall. Their penalty corner advantage was 8-3 in the first half and 12-3 for the game. Missouri State (1-3) made a goalie change at halftime.
Misko got the scoring started early with a goal just 31 seconds into the contest. It was her first goal of the season and the 17th of her four-year career. Sydnor was credited with the assist.
The score remained 1-0 until 14:20 into the half when Fitzgerald, a freshman, scored off a rebound. It was her first career goal and started a string of four Bison scores in a span of just over 20 minutes.
Obernesser got on the board with 7:40 left in the first half as she scored on the right side of the cage on a pass from Leigh Hillman. Just 28 seconds later Sydnor scored on a tip-in to make it 4-0.
Sydnor completed the first-half goal-scoring bookend with Misko by netting another goal with just 18 seconds left in the stanza.
Dating back to last year, Bucknell's last six wins have come by at least two goals and the average margin of victory over that span is 4.5 goals.
Missouri State's goal came 2:45 into the second half when Hillary Lawless scored off a rebound.
Saturday's contest was the middle game of the Buckeye Classic. Bucknell will wrap up the event Sunday at noon when it takes on host Ohio State. The Buckeyes defeated the Bears by a 5-1 score on Friday.
