Bucknell University
Ohio State
Overtime Goal by Resh Lifts Bucknell Field Hockey Past Ohio State, 3-2
9/8/2013 4:07:00 PM | Field Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A hard shot by Bucknell's Vickie Resh from just inside the circle found the far right side of the goal and lifted the Bison field hockey team to a 3-2 overtime victory at Ohio State Sunday afternoon. The goal completed quite a comeback for Bucknell, which faced an early 2-0 hole.
A two-time All-Patriot League player, Resh corralled a cross-field pass and evaded a defender. With open field in front of her she moved inside the left side of the circle and launched what proved to be the game-winning shot eight minutes into the overtime period. It was the third goal of Resh's career.
Bucknell (2-2), which earned its first win of the year on Saturday against Missouri State, defeated a Big Ten team for the second time in program history. The only other win over a Big Ten opponent was a 4-0 shutout of Indiana in 2000.
The Bison found themselves down 2-0 less than 11 minutes into the contest as Ohio State's (2-2) Nora Murer and Mona Frommhold scored back-to-back goals just 2:46 apart. However, that was all the Bucknell defense would allow the Buckeyes, who were scoreless the final 67:11.
“Kelsey Mucelli and Vickie Resh were great in the midfield the whole game,” praised Bison head coach Jeremy Cook. “They had great distribution and defensive organization the whole game. Also, Liz Wills, our 'quarterback', did a great job moving the ball around and defending some of their best players.”
Bucknell did not attempt a shot during the first 18 minutes of play, but Leigh Hillman, who scored two first-half goals to tie the game, got the Bison on the board 18:46 in when she took a pass from Abby Watson in front of the cage and found the back of the net.
Just over six minutes later following an Ohio State turnover, Hillman connected again from right in front of the cage off a pass from Hope Obernesser. Hillman now has a team-high three goals this year and all three scores have come against Big Ten programs (Iowa, Ohio State).
Neither team got on the board again until Resh tallied the game-winner more than 50 minutes later. There were plenty of opportunities, though, as Bucknell outshot the Buckeyes 9-6 after halftime. There were a combined seven penalty corners in the second half and overtime.
“This was a gutsy performance by the whole team,” commented Cook, who was coaching his 100th game at Bucknell. “I was proud of our approach and the resiliency we showed by not allowing a couple early goals break us apart. I thought we controlled the final 20 minutes of regulation, but the overtime period was tough. We had to weather some serious attacks by OSU, who created some great scoring chances.”
Bucknell goalie Erica Perrine was credited with five saves, while Sarah Lemieux (35 min., 2 GA, 0 saves) and Emma Voelker (43 min., 1 GA, 3 saves) split time in cage for the Buckeyes.
Sunday's contest was the final in the weekend-long Buckeye Classic. Ohio State and Bucknell had both defeated Missouri State by matching 5-1 scores the last two days.
The Bison, who have played seven consecutive games away from Graham Field dating back to last year, will have one more road contest before opening their home schedule. They play at Drexel Friday, Sept. 13, before returning to Graham Field next Sunday to host Penn.
