Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Columbia
Field Hockey Rallies for 4-3 Win at Columbia
10/16/2016 6:57:00 PM | Field Hockey
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Bucknell erased a 2-0 halftime deficit with four straight goals on its way to a 4-3 win over Columbia in a non-conference field hockey game Sunday at the Columbia Field Hockey Venue. Junior Stephanie Dressler, freshman Brittany Willwerth, senior Amy Mucelli, and sophomore M.C. Evans all scored for the Bison, who improved to 6-8 overall and 5-5 against non-conference opponents.
Columbia came out firing, scoring two goals in the first 7:07 of play. Kate Ruesterholz scored her 11th goal of the season just 3:01 after the opening whistle, and Maeve Doherty tallied her eighth goal four minutes later to put the Lions up 2-0.
Bucknell came alive in the second half, starting with Dressler's goal 8:33 after the break. She scored off a corner with assists from senior Estelle Palandjian and Mucelli. Dressler added an assist as the Bison tied the game at 2-2 in the 51st minute. She set up freshman Brittany Willwerth for her fifth goal of the season.
Mucelli came through with the game-winner in the 58th minute, scoring her first goal of the season. The Preseason All-Patriot League selection scored after Evans brought the ball up the middle and then delivered a pass that the team captain put home to give her team a 3-2 lead.
Evans then tacked on a goal of her own, an insurance goal that turned out to be necessary for the Bucknell win. Palandjian came through with her second assist of the day, helping Evans notch her first score of the season.
Columbia's final goal came with just two seconds left on the clock, as Meredith Kalberer completed the scoring at 4-3. It was Bucknell's sixth straight one-goal game and the ninth this season.
After the two early goals, junior goalkeeper Emily Finn and the Bucknell defense shut things down. She stopped the next five shots she faced to pick up her sixth win of the year.
Bucknell's next game is a must win if it wants to qualify for the Patriot League Tournament for the ninth consecutive season. The Bison will host Lafayette on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Leopards are 7-7 overall and 2-2 in the conference after losses to Holy Cross, Albany, American, and James Madison.
