Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Rutgers
Field Hockey Opens Season with 2-0 Shutout of Rutgers
8/26/2016 7:27:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Freshman Brittany Willwerth scored a first-half goal, classmate Marisa Morakis added a second-half tally and junior goalie Emily Finn registered her first career solo shutout as the Bucknell field hockey team posted a 2-0 season-opening victory over Rutgers Friday afternoon at sunny Graham Field. The win marked the first for the Bison in a season opener since 2007.
Bucknell (1-0) defeated Rutgers (0-1) for the second time in the last four years. The Bison downed the Scarlet Knights 5-2 in 2013 for their only other win in the series.
Willwerth put Bucknell on the board with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half. She inserted the ball on a penalty corner and then stepped back into the play to receive a pass from Lexi Quick and knock the ball past Rutgers goalie Shevaun Hayes.
The Bison added an insurance goal off the stick of Morakis 10 minutes into the second half. At the end of a long possession, Bucknell worked the ball close to the goal off a couple of passes and finally Morakis scored off a pass from Preseason All-Patriot League selection Amy Mucelli.
Willwerth nearly put the Bison up 3-0 on their very next possession, but her shot from just a few feet away from the goal bounced off the right post of the goal.
Finn registered Bucknell's first shutout since last October against Colgate by stopping one Rutgers shot.
The Scarlet Knights outshot the Bison 7-5 and held a 6-4 edge in penalty corners.
Rutgers used two goalies in the contest with Hayes playing the first half and Amanda Lamb playing most of the second half. The Scarlet Knights played without a goalie for the final 4:19 as they faced the 2-0 deficit.
Bucknell's last three wins have now come by at least two goals each. The Bison have won those games (vs. Holy Cross, Yale and Rutgers) by a combined 11-3 score.
Bucknell will be in action again on Sunday when it hosts York (Toronto) in an exhibition game at noon at Graham Field. The Bison then play on the road at Saint Joseph's and nationally ranked Princeton next weekend.
