Late Flurry Sends Lehigh Past Bucknell Women’s Soccer, 3-1

Wednesday, October 2

Bethlehem, Pa.

7 p.m.

Bucknell University

4-7-0, 2-1-0PL

Lehigh

3-4-4, 1-2-0PL

Bucknell

Lehigh

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

Late Flurry Sends Lehigh Past Bucknell Women’s Soccer, 3-1

10/2/2019 9:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Freshman Rylee Donaldson, an Allentown native playing in front of a large group of hometown fans, scored her first collegiate goal to put Bucknell in front in the second half, but Lehigh came back with three tallies in the final 20 minutes to swipe a 3-1 verdict in Patriot League women's soccer action on Wednesday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex.

The Bison (4-7-0, 2-1-0 PL) came into the match in a tie for first place in the Patriot League after a 2-0 start, and they seemed poised to stay at the top of the table when Donaldson opened her account in the 62nd minute. Holly Burns sent a long free kick into the penalty area, and Donaldson shielded off a defender before slotting a shot into the left side of the goal.

Bucknell had withstood some Lehigh pressure early in the match before a heavy rainstorm moved through late in the first half. But a little bit of bad luck resulted in the equalizer in the 70th minute. The Mountain Hawks (3-4-4, 1-2-0 PL) played a ball on the ground to the top of the area, where a Bison defender arrived first but saw her clearance attempt ricochet off the shins of Maggie Wadsworth. The carom shot back off the left post and in to make it a 1-1 game.

Lehigh went ahead just over 10 minutes later. Erin Keefe played a free kick deep into the box, and Julianna Bonner flicked in a header from six yards out for her first collegiate goal.

Just 1:47 later it was 3-1 after another headed goal from a substitute, this one from Rebecca Van Siclen at the near post off a corner kick from Keefe.

Kaylee Donnelly made five saves for Bucknell, while Miranda Royds had three for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh finished with an 18-9 shot advantage and stopped a three-game home losing streak in the series with Bucknell.

Despite the loss, the Bison are just one point off the pace in the Patriot League. Navy, the other 2-0 team coming into the night, needed an 87th-minute own goal to pull out a 1-1 draw at home against Lafayette. Boston University joined the Bison on six points after a 1-0 win at Army.

The Black Knights are next on the slate for Bucknell. Army visits Emmitt Field on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Gallery: (10/2/2019) Women's Soccer at Lehigh