Bison Score Late to Clip Towson, 1-0

Friday, August 31

Lewisburg, Pa.

7 p.m.

Bucknell University

Towson

Riley Coopersmith

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

8/31/2018 9:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Sophomore forward Jenna Marek stole a back pass and fired home the game-winning goal in the 80th minute to send the Bucknell women's soccer team past Towson 1-0 on Friday night at Emmitt Field. Junior goalkeeper Theresa Adu-Attobrah notched her first career shutout with three saves, including a big one with less than three minutes remaining in the match, and the Bison improved to 2-3 on the season.

Coming into the game, all three of Bucknell's losses had been by 1-0 counts to teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. This time the Bison flipped the script with a 1-0 verdict of their own, with Marek's late goal highlighting an action-packed second half.

A few minutes earlier, Bucknell got away with an errant back pass in its own defensive end, with Adu-Attobrah racing off her line to force Sheyenne Bonnick to take a heavy touch around her, and Bonnick could not steer the ball in as it leaked over the end line. With 10:37 remaining in regulation, the Tigers (0-4-1) tried to escape trouble with a square pass to a center back, but Marek picked it off and was off to the races. She cut back inside at the top of the penalty area and rocketed a shot that appeared to be acrobatically saved by Megan Collins. But the ball ricocheted straight up in the air and then spun across the line.

Neither team generated much from the run of play in the first half, although both sides had good looks from free kicks at the edge of the area. In the 14th minute, Adu-Attobrah made a tricky save on Evelyn Neidert's attempt from a yard outside the box, tipping the shot into the crossbar where it was then cleared to safety. Bucknell drew two fouls just to the left of the box in the first half but could not get on the finishing end.

The second half featured much more open play, with end-to-end action throughout. Bucknell nearly went ahead in the 52nd minute, when Gabby Bair beat her mark on the right end line and sent in a low cross. Collins tried to break it up, but the ball landed on the foot of freshman Emilene Parham, whose shot skimmed over the bar.

Freshman center back Claire Mensi had a busy night, and she thwarted a potential breakaway in the 56th minute by sprinting back to block Elizabeth Coletti's attempt. Towson's Sarah Quick found space at the 18 about five minutes later, but Adu-Attobrah made a lunging save.

After the Marek goal, Adu-Attobrah was needed one more time, this time covering her near post to smother Bonnick's low drive. Adu-Attobrah now has 34 saves with only four goals allowed in five starts this season, good for a stellar .895 save percentage.

Collins stopped four shots for the Tigers, who substituted early and often in the game and used 23 players in total. The Bison finished with a 12-10 shot advantage, while both teams earned three corner kicks.

The Bison get right back in action on Sunday with a 4 p.m. road game at Saint Francis (Pa.).

GOAL!!! The Towson goalie got her hands on it, but Jenna Marek had enough on the shot to put the Bison up 1-0 with under 11 minutes to play. #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/MJGPgGMIIX
— Bucknell WSoccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) September 1, 2018