Bison Cash in on Corner Kicks in 3-1 Win at Army West Point

Saturday, October 6

West Point, N.Y.

7 p.m.

Bucknell University

6-7-1, 4-1-0PL

Army West Point

6-3-5, 2-2-1PL

Bucknell

Army

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

Bison Cash in on Corner Kicks in 3-1 Win at Army West Point

10/6/2018 9:36:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Bucknell wins fourth straight PL game to move into third-place tie

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Bucknell women's soccer team made excellent use of the corner kick to unlock the Patriot League's stingiest defense. The Bison scored all three of their goals off corners, two coming from freshman Holly Burns, and they turned back Army West Point by a 3-1 count on Saturday night at Clinton Field.

Bucknell has now won four straight Patriot League games to get to 4-1 in conference play and 6-7-1 overall. The Bison moved into a tie for third place alongside Navy with four games remaining in the regular season.

Army (6-3-5, 2-2-1 PL) is Bucknell's closest pursuer in the standings, so the three points were big for the Bison, who are now five points clear of the fifth-place Black Knights.

Army and standout goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia had allowed just six goals through 13 games coming in, and the Bison became only the second team to post multiple goals against the Black Knights and the first all year to score three. Marshall scored twice in a 2-2 draw at West Point all the way back on Aug. 19.

Bucknell was under duress in the opening moments of the match. Not even two minutes in, a ball played into the area from Emily Torres leaked all the way through and off the far post. The ball caromed back into the middle of the goal mouth, where Dano swept it away to safety.

The Bison settled in after the close call and manufactured a few set pieces. They capitalized in the 13^th minute, when Dano's corner kick into the center of the box was headed toward the top right corner by Burns. Cassalia was crowded by Gabby Bair, and the Army keeper could only tip the shot into the back of the net.

Burns nearly returned the favor to Dano in the 39^th minute. Dano cracked a volley off the Burns corner kick, but this one was blocked off the line by an Army defender stationed at the near post.

In the second half, just after Bucknell had a promising counter-attack washed out on an offside call, Sarah Chamberlain sent Morgan Walsh in on a breakaway, and the Army striker slipped a shot past the charging Theresa Adu-Attobrah and inside the left post to make it 1-1 in the 52^nd minute.

Bucknell went back ahead in the 66^th minute after winning another corner kick. Dano delivered an inswinger inside the six, and as Cassalia tried to jump over the back of Burns, she punched the ball into her own net. It was recorded as an own goal, but the Bison had the advantage back.

In the 76^th minute, Bri Kropinak and Lilly Courts worked a pretty 2v1 break. Courts beat the keeper, but Kayleigh Stallings tracked back and cleared Courts' shot off the line.

The Black Knights thought they had another tying goal with just over 10 minutes to play. After a hand ball, Sydney Witham blasted a free kick from about 35 yards out. Adu-Atoobrah had to go up high to tip the ball on the air, and as she recovered to catch her own rebound, the ball was headed out of her hands and into the back of the net by Simone Gardner. The foul was given, however, and the goal was waved off.

That proved big moments later, when the Bison came through on yet another corner kick. Dano's delivery to the back post was headed back across goal by Carly Baggott, where Burns volleyed it home for a 3-1 lead.

Burns' brace marked her first two collegiate goals. Normally a midfielder, Burns has been filling in admirably as a center back over the last five games while classmate Claire Mensi recovers from an injury. The Bison have conceded only three goals in that five-game span.

Dano, the senior co-captain who has worked well with her two first-year center-back partners all season, provided the delivery on all three goals in this one. She was officially credited with two assists, giving her 10 in her career. Dano also led the team with five shot attempts.

Adu-Attobrah was credited with four saves, while Cassalia finished with three for Army. Bucknell logged a 13-11 shot advantage and led 7-3 in corner kicks.

The Bison now have a week off to prepare for a Senior Day home tilt against Patriot League co-leader Colgate next Saturday at 5 p.m.