Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
Field Hockey Drops Overtime Heartbreaker to American, 2-1
10/1/2016 3:26:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell led after 70 minutes of play, but American scored on its third corner opportunity with no time left on the clock to send the game into overtime. Rafaela Rubas scored the game-winner 12:57 into the extra period to give the Eagles a 2-1 win in Patriot League field hockey action at Graham Field on Saturday.
Bucknell, which dropped to 4-5 overall and 1-1 in the Patriot League, broke a scoreless tie with Marisa Morakis's goal in the 53rd minute. The freshman's second career goal was scored on a rebound following a shot by senior Anna Wills on a corner opportunity.
The Bison would hold that lead until the buzzer sounded, but American received a corner in the closing seconds. The Eagles came up empty the first time, and the second time, but Leah DiGiandomenico sent the game into overtime on the third chance. Her sixth goal of the year was scored on a rebound following a save by goalie Emily Finn.
Bucknell was short-handed when the goal was scored due to a yellow card, and spent the first three minutes of overtime short-handed, as well. The Bison killed the penalty in the extra period, as did American when it received a yellow card in the 78th minute.
Rubas scored the game-winner by batting a loose ball out of mid-air. It was her fourth goal of the season. American improved to 7-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference.
Finn made seven saves for Bucknell, while Maura Jacobs made six for American. The Eagles finished with a 15-9 advantage in shots and an 11-4 difference in penalty corners.
Bucknell entered Saturday with a 12-game home winning streak in regular season games against conference opponents. The last loss came to Lafayette in 2011.
The Bison have a big non-conference game to get ready for on Sunday. They will host defending national champion Syracuse, which is currently ranked fourth in the nation, at noon.
