Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Jacksonville
Women's Soccer Completes Sunshine State Sweep with 2-1 win at Jacksonville
9/14/2014 4:38:00 PM | Women's Soccer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Madison Loos and Kendall Ham scored second-half goals to send the red-hot Bucknell women's soccer team to its fourth straight victory, a gutsy 2-1 win over reigning Atlantic Sun champion Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon at Southern Oak Stadium. Now 5-3 on the season, the Bison played without four regulars due to injury or illness, but they still completed a weekend sweep on their Florida trip after blanking Stetson 1-0 on Friday night.
This was Bucknell's second victory of the season over a team that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. The Bison knocked off defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Monmouth 2-0 back on Aug. 29. Ham had a goal and an assist in that game, and Bucknell's leading scorer had the game-winner in this one, snapping a 1-1 tie in the 69th minute.
The game was scoreless at the half, but only because Jacksonville's standout goalkeeper Sarah Sierra made two terrific saves on Ham in the closing minutes of the period. The start of the second half was delayed by lightning, and then just 2:36 after the resumption of play the Bison got on the board. After a service from Alexis Gannon was broken up in the box, Sarah Bresette took possession and found Loos in front of goal, and the junior midfielder put it home for her first career tally.
But just 5:01 later the Dolphins (5-3-1) responded with Joy Grove scoring off a feed from Kaitlyn Bassett. Ham subbed back on about seven minutes after the Jacksonville equalizer, and it did not take long for her to score her team-leading fourth goal of the year. Her initial shot was saved by Sierra, but Ham finished the rebound with 22:02 to play in the match.
Bassett hit the post in the 72nd minute, but the Bison kept the ball in the Dolphins' end for a good portion of the final 20 minutes. Sierra kept Jacksonville in the game with two terrific saves on Danielle Piccirilli, first on a close-range volley and then a diving stop on the rebound.
Jacksonville had one last attempt with two minutes to go, but Lindsay Forrest went over the bar with shot from 20 yards out.
While Sierra was busy all afternoon with seven saves, the Bucknell defense kept its keepers relatively clean. Jessie Ashworth played the first half and Jessica Ratner came on in the second. Ratner made the team's lone save, as the defense limited Jacksonville to just two shots on target.
"I could not be more pleased with our effort and our perseverance this week," said head coach Ben Landis. "We stuck together through some adversity and came away with two good wins. Even though we were on the road in hot weather, I thought we were the fresher team in the second half today. Our center backs (Hannah Bonotto and Lauren Dandie) were fantastic, and Courtney Nelson, Montana Paley and Kelsey Witt were all strong defensively. It's great to be playing well going into league play."
Bucknell had a 20-13 edge in total shots and led 4-1 in corner kicks. Ham led all players with seven shot attempts, and she now has a team-high 10 points on four goals and two assists on the season.
Jacksonville saw its three-game winning streak come to an end. The Dolphins had beaten College of Charleston, UAB and Florida Atlantic in succession, and they also own a 3-0 win over Lafayette of the Patriot League.
The Bison now have six days to recover before traveling to Army for the Patriot League opener next Saturday at 5 p.m.
