Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Saint Joseph's
Field Hockey Wins Third Straight, Defeats Saint Joseph's 4-0
9/12/2014 8:29:00 PM | Field Hockey
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Liz Wills posted a goal for the fourth consecutive game and recorded an assist as she led a parade of four Bison goal scorers in a 4-0 field hockey win at Saint Joseph's Friday evening. It was the third straight win for Bucknell, which pushed its record to 3-1. The Hawks fell to 2-3.
Wills has now scored a goal in every game this year for the Bison, who have won three games in a row for the first time since early in the 2012 campaign. Her goal came off a penalty corner late in the first half that gave Bucknell a 3-0 lead going into halftime.
The Bison limited Saint Joe's to just six shots in the game as they posted their second consecutive shutout. Starting goalie Shannon Keen, who recorded her first career shutout Sunday at Penn, posted three saves in 64 minutes of play, while reserve Emily Finn played the final 5:44. Bucknell's defense has limited its last two opponents to just 10 shots and now has two straight shutouts for the first time since 2010.
“We were able to take a big step forward with some of the things we've been working on the last couple of weeks,” praised Bison seventh-year head coach Jeremy Cook. “We controlled the tempo of the game and were efficient in the way we moved the ball around the field looking for space to attack.
“Our corner group was also fantastic, accounting for all four of our goals. Shannon did what had to be done to keep them off the scoreboard. I'm really proud of our team today. It was a total physical and mental effort by the whole group.”
Bucknell outshot Saint Joseph's 13-6 and held an 8-3 edge in penalty corners.
The Bison wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Amy Mucelli tallied her first goal of the year just 6:31 into the contest. Wills, who has a team-high 10 points this year, earned her second assist of the season.
Midway through the first half Kiersten Sydnor put Bucknell up 2-0 when she put home a rebound over goalkeeper Amelia Deibler. It was her first goal of the season after totaling six a year ago.
Freshman Lexie Curry rounded out the scoring with 8:10 to go, tallying on a rebound after a shot attempt on a penalty corner was saved. She became the first member of this year's freshman class to get into the scoring column.
The Bison will wrap up their season-opening five-game road trip Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest at No. 14 Princeton. Bucknell will be looking to stretch a winning streak to four games for the first time since October 2009. The Bison have already eclipsed their road win total from all of 2013.
