Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
California
Hitchings Scores Twice in Field Hockey's 2-1 Win Over California
9/13/2015 7:20:00 PM | Field Hockey
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Emily Hitchings scored twice in the second half to lift Bucknell to a 2-1 win over California in a non-conference field hockey game Sunday at Penn State. It was the Bison's first game against the Golden Bears in program history.
Bucknell bounced back from two straight losses to nationally-ranked teams to notch the win and improve to 2-3. The win came over a Cal team that knocked off No. 14 Penn State 3-2 in overtime on Friday. The Golden Bears fell to 4-3.
After a scoreless first half, Cal struck first with a goal by Janaye Sakkas in the 48th minute. Melina Moore assisted on the score with a waist-high pass from the left side that Sakkas deflected in from in front of the goal. Bucknell has given up the first goal in four of its five games this season, but has responded with the next goal three times.
It only took the Bison eight minutes to answer against the Golden Bears. Following the insert on a penalty corner and a short pass, Anna Wills ripped one through the defense to Hitchings, who redirected the ball past the goalie to tie the score at one.
Hitchings tallied the game-winning goal with 5:37 remaining in regulation. Her second goal of the season came off a rebound on a shot by Kiersten Sydnor. Hitchings, who missed most of her junior season with an injury, recorded a multi-goal game after not having scored since her freshman year.
Despite falling behind 1-0, Bucknell controlled the action for most of the contest. The Bison finished with a 10-4 advantage in shots and had eight corners to Cal's two. They forced goalie Kori Griswold to stop five shots, while Shannon Keen made one save to register the win. It was the 15th win of Keen's career, moving her into a tie with Sue Gray for 11th on the program's all-time list.
Bucknell will have two tough road games before opening league play at home against Lehigh on Sept. 26. The Bison will play at No. 18 Delaware on Friday and at No. 7 Albany on Sunday. The Blue Hens and Great Danes are a combined 10-1 on the season.
