Saturday, November 2
Lewisburg, Pa.
12 p.m.
Bucknell University
(9-8, 4-2PL)
2
vs
1
Holy Cross
(6-11, 2-4PL)
1
2
3
4
F
Holy Cross
0
1
0
0
1
Bucknell
1
1
0
0
2
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Bucknell Field Hockey Beats Holy Cross 2-1, Headed to Postseason for 12th Year in a Row
11/2/2019 3:12:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Leah Fogelsanger scored two goals and the Bucknell defense limited Holy Cross to two shots, as the Bison locked up their 12th straight Patriot League Tournament bid with a 2-1 victory over Holy Cross on Senior Day at Graham Field.
Bucknell ends the regular season 9-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play, and the Bison will be the No. 3 seed in next week's Patriot League Tournament. American edge Lafayette 1-0 in a battle for first place earlier in the day, giving the Eagles the top seed and hosting rights for the semifinals and championship game. Bucknell will face second-seeded Lafayette in the semifinals on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
"I am so proud of this group," said head coach Jeremy Cook, who has now guided the Bison to postseason appearances in each of his 12 seasons at Bucknell. "They have stuck together all year and really played well today in a game that had a lot riding on the outcome. We wanted to win this one for our seniors, and they all played a huge role today. I'm excited to get back to work this week preparing for a very good Lafayette team on Friday."
Despite the loss to Bucknell, Holy Cross (6-11, 2-4) ends up as the No. 4 seed and will face host American in the first semifinal game on Friday at 11:30 a.m. In a wild scenario, Holy Cross' playoff hopes rested on Lehigh knocking off defending-champion Boston University to set up a three-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot, which would then trigger a goal-differential tiebreaker. That situation played out, as Lehigh's Drew Pecora scored in overtime to beat the Terriers, and by keeping their loss to Bucknell to just a single goal, the Crusaders grabbed that fourth spot, while Boston University and Lehigh were eliminated.
That set up a neat moment on the field a few minutes after the Bucknell-Holy Cross game ended. The Crusaders celebrated when they received official word that they had made the postseason, and they received a nice ovation from the Bucknell players and fans as well.
Not knowing how the Lehigh-Boston University game would play out in Bethlehem, Bucknell and Holy Cross took the field knowing that the winner would clinch a Patriot League Tournament berth, but the loser would be in jeopardy.
It was the Bison who came out on the attack right from the start, and they cashed in just 2:19 into the match. Megan Keeney dug out a loose ball near the right post and centered for Fogelsanger, who slammed it home from close range to give the Bison a big early goal.
It remained 1-0 until Fogelsanger struck again midway through the second quarter. Sarah Dimock carried into the circle and spotted Fogelsanger to her left, and the junior wound up and fired a low rocket past the outstretched right boot of goalie Marcia LaPlante. It was Fogelsanger's seventh goal of the season, tying her with Emily Doyle for the team lead.
Just over two minutes later, Holy Cross cut the margin in half on their very first shot of the day. Off a penalty corner, Minke Koomen tipped in Madeline Alderfer's drive for her team-leading ninth goal of the season.
The Bison had some other quality chances, most notably a wicked reverse-stick shot from Brittany Willwerth early in the second quarter that LaPlante steered aside. LaPlante made seven saves on the day, three of them coming on shots from Willwerth.
Bucknell led 7-5 in penalty corners, and the Bison conceded only the one shot on goal on five defensive corners. The Crusaders earned a pair of corners in the final four minutes of the game, but Bucknell snuffed them out quickly.
The Bison did not allow a second shot until the final second of the game, when Caitlin Little sent a desperation attempt high over the cage as time expired.
Bucknell finished with a 14-2 shot advantage and defeated Holy Cross for the 10th time in the last 11 meetings.
Prior to the game, Bucknell honored six outstanding seniors: Sam Chanzit, Allie Christopher, Olivia Harris, Marisa Morakis, Chloe Poltonavage and Willwerth. The group picked up their 38th win and will be headed back to the postseason looking to lead the Bison to their first league title.
The Bison head into the postseason looking to avenge a 2-1 loss to Lafayette in Easton on Oct. 26. Lisa van der Geest and Molly McAndrew scored to give the Leopards a 2-0 lead. Brittany Willwerth cut it to 2-1 in the 53rd minute, but the Bison could not find the equalizer.
This will be the ninth time the Bison and Leopards have met in the Patriot League Tournament and the first since 2011, when Lafayette won 3-1 in the championship game in Washington, D.C.
Bucknell ends the regular season 9-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play, and the Bison will be the No. 3 seed in next week's Patriot League Tournament. American edge Lafayette 1-0 in a battle for first place earlier in the day, giving the Eagles the top seed and hosting rights for the semifinals and championship game. Bucknell will face second-seeded Lafayette in the semifinals on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
"I am so proud of this group," said head coach Jeremy Cook, who has now guided the Bison to postseason appearances in each of his 12 seasons at Bucknell. "They have stuck together all year and really played well today in a game that had a lot riding on the outcome. We wanted to win this one for our seniors, and they all played a huge role today. I'm excited to get back to work this week preparing for a very good Lafayette team on Friday."
Despite the loss to Bucknell, Holy Cross (6-11, 2-4) ends up as the No. 4 seed and will face host American in the first semifinal game on Friday at 11:30 a.m. In a wild scenario, Holy Cross' playoff hopes rested on Lehigh knocking off defending-champion Boston University to set up a three-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot, which would then trigger a goal-differential tiebreaker. That situation played out, as Lehigh's Drew Pecora scored in overtime to beat the Terriers, and by keeping their loss to Bucknell to just a single goal, the Crusaders grabbed that fourth spot, while Boston University and Lehigh were eliminated.
That set up a neat moment on the field a few minutes after the Bucknell-Holy Cross game ended. The Crusaders celebrated when they received official word that they had made the postseason, and they received a nice ovation from the Bucknell players and fans as well.
🏑#PatriotFH Championship🏆 Field is Complete!
— Patriot League (@PatriotLeague) November 2, 2019
1⃣ @AU_FieldHockey
2⃣ @LafayetteFH
3⃣ @Bucknell_FH
4⃣ @HCrossFH
Semifinal Round begins on Nov. 8 in Washington, D.C.
📰https://t.co/nnSzbAwL2H#PatriotFH | @NFHCA pic.twitter.com/Rtw2zlptk6
Not knowing how the Lehigh-Boston University game would play out in Bethlehem, Bucknell and Holy Cross took the field knowing that the winner would clinch a Patriot League Tournament berth, but the loser would be in jeopardy.
It was the Bison who came out on the attack right from the start, and they cashed in just 2:19 into the match. Megan Keeney dug out a loose ball near the right post and centered for Fogelsanger, who slammed it home from close range to give the Bison a big early goal.
The Bison lead it 1-0 at the end of the first! Here's a look at the Fogelsanger goal.#rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/voeU9GKJZG
— Bucknell FieldHockey (@Bucknell_FH) November 2, 2019
It remained 1-0 until Fogelsanger struck again midway through the second quarter. Sarah Dimock carried into the circle and spotted Fogelsanger to her left, and the junior wound up and fired a low rocket past the outstretched right boot of goalie Marcia LaPlante. It was Fogelsanger's seventh goal of the season, tying her with Emily Doyle for the team lead.
HALF | Bucknell leads it 2-1 thanks to this goal by Fogelsanger.
— Bucknell FieldHockey (@Bucknell_FH) November 2, 2019
Additionally, Lehigh has defeated Boston University 2-1 in overtime, sending Bucknell to the Patriot League tournament!!#rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/xVQeFIHzJZ
Just over two minutes later, Holy Cross cut the margin in half on their very first shot of the day. Off a penalty corner, Minke Koomen tipped in Madeline Alderfer's drive for her team-leading ninth goal of the season.
The Bison had some other quality chances, most notably a wicked reverse-stick shot from Brittany Willwerth early in the second quarter that LaPlante steered aside. LaPlante made seven saves on the day, three of them coming on shots from Willwerth.
Bucknell led 7-5 in penalty corners, and the Bison conceded only the one shot on goal on five defensive corners. The Crusaders earned a pair of corners in the final four minutes of the game, but Bucknell snuffed them out quickly.
The Bison did not allow a second shot until the final second of the game, when Caitlin Little sent a desperation attempt high over the cage as time expired.
Bucknell finished with a 14-2 shot advantage and defeated Holy Cross for the 10th time in the last 11 meetings.
Prior to the game, Bucknell honored six outstanding seniors: Sam Chanzit, Allie Christopher, Olivia Harris, Marisa Morakis, Chloe Poltonavage and Willwerth. The group picked up their 38th win and will be headed back to the postseason looking to lead the Bison to their first league title.
The Bison head into the postseason looking to avenge a 2-1 loss to Lafayette in Easton on Oct. 26. Lisa van der Geest and Molly McAndrew scored to give the Leopards a 2-0 lead. Brittany Willwerth cut it to 2-1 in the 53rd minute, but the Bison could not find the equalizer.
This will be the ninth time the Bison and Leopards have met in the Patriot League Tournament and the first since 2011, when Lafayette won 3-1 in the championship game in Washington, D.C.
Team Stats
HC
BUCKNELL
Goals
1
2
Shots
2
14
Shots on Goal
1
9
Saves
7
0
Corners
5
7
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Fogelsanger, Leah (6)
Assisted By: Keeney, Megan
Ball centered to #23, finish from close
2:19
Fogelsanger, Leah (7)
Assisted By: Dimock, Sarah
Low rip from top of circle
22:19
Koomen, Minke (9)
Assisted By: Alderfer, Madeline
Tip on penalty corner
24:31
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D/M
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field HockeyM
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field HockeyM/F
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field HockeyM
/ Field Hockey
M/F
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field HockeyF
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