Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Monmouth
Three First-Half Goals Propel Field Hockey to 3-1 Win at Monmouth
8/31/2014 3:58:00 PM | Field Hockey
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Seniors Liz Wills and Cassie Lawrence scored goals for the second straight game and the Bucknell field hockey team built a 3-0 first-half cushion en route to a 3-1 victory over Monmouth Sunday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field. Amie Pritchard also scored for the Bison, who evened their season record at 1-1.
Bucknell goalie Shannon Keen posted four saves and carried a shutout until the closing minutes as the Hawks did not get on the scoreboard until 5:08 remained in the contest.
"We are happy to get the win," said Bison head coach Jeremy Cook. "It is a great reward for all the hard work our student-athletes have put in this preseason. It was a full team effort and we moved the ball really well."
All three of the Bison goals came in penalty corner situations. Bucknell earned seven penalty corners, including four in the first half.
Wills, who scored in Friday's overtime loss at Rutgers, put the Bison on the board less than seven minutes in as she blasted home a rebound off a penalty corner. The ball caromed out toward the top of the circle and she hit it hard past Monmouth goalie Christen Piersanti.
Lawrence registered her second goal of the young season just under 20 minutes into the first half when she scored on a penalty corner. Kelsey Mucelli and Pritchard were credited with assists on the play.
Just over 10 minutes later Pritchard made it 3-0, scoring on a rebound off a corner with Wills getting credit for the assist.
The Bison outshot the Hawks 13-8, including 8-3 in the decisive first half. Twelve of Bucknell's shots were by starters, including a team-high four by Pritchard.
Monmouth, which defeated Missouri State 3-0 on Friday, fell to 1-1 on the season. Meg Donahue tallied the only goal for the Hawks.
The Bison will continue their season-opening five-game road trip next Sunday with an 11 a.m. contest at Penn.
