Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Women?s Soccer Sets Single-Season Shutout Record In 3-0 Win At Lehigh
10/24/2015 10:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's soccer team punched its ticket into the Patriot League Tournament with a 3-0 win at Lehigh on Saturday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Maddie Mulford, Riley Coopersmith and Alexis Gannon each found the back of the net in the second half to improve the Bison to 9-5-3 overall and 5-1-2 in the Patriot League.
With much to play for this late in the season, the Bison answered the bell to cap off a six-point week and move closer to a first-round bye in the conference tournament. Bucknell can clinch a two-seed with a win next weekend, or a Navy loss. The Midshipmen have two games remaining, including a trip to Lafayette on Sunday.
Following a scoreless first half, Bucknell got on the board in the 54th minute. Madison Loos was able to head the ball up high into the box, which was corralled by Mulford, who sent a shot to the inside right post for her first goal of the season.
Coopersmith scored her first collegiate goal in the 76th minute. Following a corner kick from Karli Cirovski, the freshman was able to head the ball into the net to give Bucknell a 2-0 lead.
The Bison scored again just six minutes later. Meghan Holtz played a through ball to Gannon, who was able to outrun two defenders and get off a shot despite an oncoming goalkeeper for her fourth goal of the year.
“Going into halftime, we weren't doing the things we needed to do”, said head coach Kelly Kuss. “At half, we talked about the game plan and in the second half, we were able to get behind the defense and create some great scoring opportunities.”
Bucknell outshot Lehigh 19-17, while holding a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks. Goalkeeper Jessica Ratner finished with six saves in the contest.
For the fourth straight game and the ninth time this year, the Bison back line was able to keep the sheet clean. Bucknell's league-leading nine shutouts is a new single-season program record, previously set in 2008. The team's four straight shutouts ties a team-record, set in 2002. The Bison have now held their opponents scoreless for 389:50 consecutive minutes. The school record for scoreless minutes is 446:26.
“Defensively, the back line was solid,” said Kuss. “We set the single-season shutout record and for us, it's really rewarding for those guys who don't get a lot of stats.”
The Bison are now unbeaten in their last seven games, which ties a school record set in 2006. Saturday's win was Bucknell's first road victory by a three-goal or more margin since 2008 at St. Bonaventure (3-0) and the first against a Patriot League opponent since 2008 at Lafayette (4-1).
Bucknell will wrap up the regular season on Halloween (Oct. 31), when the team returns to Emmitt Field for its Senior Day game against Army West Point. Game time is set for 12 p.m.
