Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Women's Soccer Comes from Behind Again, Beats Holy Cross 2-1
10/25/2014 2:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer
WORCESTER, Mass. -- For the second time this week the Bucknell women's soccer team spotted an opponent an early goal, only to come from behind to earn a 2-1 victory and three points in the Patriot League standings. On Saturday at Smith Soccer Stadium, it was reserve forwards Alexis Gannon and Sarah Bresette scoring second-half goals to send the Bison past Holy Cross.
On Wednesday at Emmitt Field, the Bison trailed Lafayette 1-0 and were about 17 minutes away from falling out of playoff position. But they scratched out two goals, capped by Brigit Falcón's overtime strike, to win that one 2-1. On Saturday, Patriot League scoring leader Aly Spencer put the Crusaders on the board just 5:10 into the match before Bucknell stormed back again with two terrific goals.
This was the only afternoon game played on Saturday, and the result at least temporarily pushed Bucknell (9-7-3, 4-3-1 PL) past Army into fourth place. The Black Knights host Lafayette later in the evening. The Bison will clinch one of the six Patriot League Tournament berths if Navy can win or draw Loyola on Sunday. Despite starting the season 9-0-2 overall, Holy Cross (9-5-3, 1-5-2 PL) was eliminated from postseason contention.
On a beautiful New England afternoon in front of a large, bipartisan crowd, the Crusaders struck first early in the match. Spencer found shooting space at the top of the 18 and placed a high shot over keeper Jessie Ashworth into the back of the net. It was the 11th goal of the season for the freshman Spencer.
About 10 minutes later, Holy Cross nearly logged a second goal in a corner kick scrum, but Ashworth got a piece of Claire Malone's shot and defender Lauren Dandie blocked the ball off the line. On the ensuing corner Gina Righini hit a rising shot that scraped the crossbar on the way up.
After the slow start, coach Ben Landis brought on a wave of subs, and the flow of the match seemed to stabilize from there. Bucknell saw a bit more of the ball in the second half, and the hard work of central midfielder Madison Loos resulted in the equalizing goal in the 63rd minute.
A Holy Cross midfielder took a pass and turned back toward her own goal, and Loos chased her down from behind and stole the ball, leading to a 3-on-2 break for the Bison. Loos picked out Gannon to her left, and the sophomore calmly finished the breakaway for her third goal of the year.
Maddie Mulford was the facilitator on the go-ahead tally in the 79th minute. Mulford had just missed connecting with Bresette on a cross in from the right side, and this time she barreled in from the left, got to the end line and pulled a pass back into the center of the box. The pass hit Bresette in stride, and she one-touched a perfect shot into the upper right corner for a 2-1 lead.
Bucknell successfully defended two corner kicks in the closing minutes, and Ashworth made her seventh save of the night on a shot from distance with 40 seconds to play, closing out the win.
"I thought this was a great college soccer game," said Landis afterward. "It was a beautiful day, beautiful setting, and both teams had great crowd support. Our subs really lifted us late in the first half and gave us some belief. Madison Loos and Cora Climo set the tone in the second half with their tireless work rate, and we got two goals resulting from that hard work."
Bucknell finished with a 16-14 shot advantage, and the teams were even in corner kicks (5), fouls (7) and saves (7). Climo led all players with four shots for the Bison, who won their 11th straight game against Holy Cross.
Bucknell has one regular-season game remaining. The Bison will host Boston University at noon next Saturday on Senior Day at Emmitt Field.
