Bucknell University
(9-9, 4-2PL)
Lafayette (PL Semifinals)
(12-7, 5-1PL)
Late Goal Drops Bucknell Field Hockey in Patriot League Semifinal
11/8/2019 4:53:00 PM | Field Hockey
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bucknell field hockey held No. 2 seed Lafayette scoreless through 52 minutes, but a penalty corner in the closing minutes gave the Leopards a 1-0 victory in the Patriot League semifinal game on Friday. With the win, the Leopards advance to the championship game against No. 1 seed American.
For the Bison, it's the second time they've fallen to Lafayette by a single goal in the past two weeks, and the sixth single-goal loss they suffered this year.
Similar to last time the two teams faced, penalty corners played a major role in the outcome. With each team playing stout defense, the majority of scoring chances came on corner attempts. Four of Lafayette's eight penalty corners were awarded in a 2:19 span with under 11 minutes to play.
It was on the eighth and final attempt that Lafayette's Audrey Sawers scored the game-winner. Sawers had to work the ball halfway around the circle before firing a shot on goal. Olivia Harris, who was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year earlier in the week, got her stick and glove on it, but the ball bounced past and into the cage. The Bison were shorthanded at the time of the goal following a green card.
Sawers' shot was the 15th of the game for Lafayette and the eighth that was on target. 12 of the Leopards 15 shots came during the final two quarters. Bucknell was only able to get two shots away. One was off the stick of Megan Keeney in the second quarter that sailed wide. The second came from Emily Doyle four minutes into the third quarter that was saved by Lafayette goalkeeper Sarah Park.
Bucknell's lone penalty corner of the game was awarded just three minutes into the first quarter. The Bison, who led the league in goals off corner attempts this season, were unable to get a shot off. Harris ended the game with seven saves, six of which she recorded in the final two quarters.
The Patriot League championship game is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 10 at noon. American defeated Lafayette 1-0 last weekend.
Team Stats
Sawers, Audrey
Worked the ball in after corner
52:05
