Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Temple
Field Hockey's Win Streak Ends at Four with 2-1 Loss to No. 13 Temple
9/20/2014 2:45:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Playing a nationally-ranked opponent for the second straight game, the Bucknell field hockey team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end with a 2-1 loss to No. 13 Temple on Saturday at Graham Field.
It was the first home game of the season for the Bison, who dropped to 4-2 overall. The Owls improved to 5-2, with both of their losses coming to teams ranked in the top five of the most recent national poll.
Temple's Amber Youtz scored her second goal of the game to put the Owls up 2-0 with under 29 minutes to play, but Bucknell was able to battle back and give itself multiple chances to tie the game.
Just three minutes following the goal by Youtz, Bucknell's Amie Pritchard scored her third goal of the season to cut the deficit in half. The score came off a penalty corner and was assisted by Anna Wills. The Bison have scored eight of their 12 goals this season off penalty corners.
The Bison didn't slow down after their goal. They put themselves in good position to tie the game on at least four different plays, including one final shot on goal by Cassie Lawrence with just over one minute remaining in the game. But Temple goalkeeper Lizzy Millen finished with seven saves and helped preserve the lead down the stretch.
“We did really well against a very good team. We created enough chances to win but we just weren't able to capitalize,” Bucknell head coach Jeremy Cook said. “The game comes down to putting the ball in the net and we couldn't do it. Temple is incredibly fast and really aggressive on the attacking end, and we just weren't able to match that on our attacking end.”
Temple broke a scoreless tie 20 minutes into the game on Youtz's first goal, which was assisted by Katie Foran. Aside from that goal, Bucknell was able to limit the damage despite the Owls controlling most of the first half with a 7-1 advantage in shots, including a 5-0 edge in shots on goal, and a 5-0 difference in penalty corners.
The Bison flipped the script in the second half, posting a dominant 12-1 advantage in shots and a 5-0 mark in shots on goal. The one goal they did give up was a tremendous individual effort by Youtz, who took the ball from midfield and pushed her way through multiple defenders before beating the goalie to the left side.
Bucknell goalie Shannon Keen, who entered the game ranked eighth nationally in both goals against average and save percentage, stopped five Temple shots, all in the first half.
The Bison will continue their four-game homestand when they host defending Patriot League Champion American on Saturday at Graham Field.
