Saturday, September 21
Easton, Pa.
4 p.m.
Bucknell University
3-6, 1-0
2
at
1
Lafayette
4-4-1, 0-1
1
2
F
Bucknell
2
0
2
Lafayette
0
1
1
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Women’s Soccer Starts Patriot League Play on Right Foot with 2-1 Win at Lafayette
9/21/2019 8:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer
⚽️ Abby Gearhart recorded a goal and an assist to lift @Bucknell_WSOC to a 2-1 win at Lafayette on Saturday. @Stadium @NCAASoccer #PatriotWSOC pic.twitter.com/5INF5sAKok
— Patriot League Network | PatriotLeague.tv (@PatriotLeagueTV) September 21, 2019
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Freshman Abby Gearhart scored the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick in the 18th minute, and then she assisted on Chloe Christakos' insurance marker just 70 seconds later, helping the Bucknell women's soccer team to a 2-1 win at Lafayette on the opening day of Patriot League play.
Freshman goalkeeper Kaylee Donnelly had a big day with 10 saves, center back Holly Burns cleared a ball off the line in the final seconds of the first half, and the Bison defense held strong under pressure despite conceding in the 79th minute.Bucknell improved to 3-6 overall and jumped to the top of the table in the Patriot League by holding on for all three away points. After posting a winning non-conference record, Lafayette fell to 4-4-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
The Leopards had allowed only two first-half goals all season before the Bison hung two on the board in a span of just over a minute. After the Bison survived Krista Kissell missing the net on a semi-breakaway chance, Rylee Donaldson was chopped down in the box, resulting in a penalty. Gearhart calmly hit the right side of the net on her first career attempt from the spot.
Just after the resumption of play, the Bison drew another foul in a dangerous area, this time in the center of the park about five yards outside the box. Christakos made a diagonal run, and Gearhart placed her free kick perfectly on her head for the second goal.
Bucknell joined Delaware and nationally ranked Georgetown as the only teams to score multiple goals on Lafayette this season, but the Leopards made a big push to get back in the game. They nearly got on the board on a scramble in the box with about 15 seconds left in the first half, but Burns was alertly stationed on the goal line to clear a shot to safety.
Then just 22 seconds into the second half Sophie Saldivar shook loose along the right side of the area, but her rising shot went over the bar. At the 78-minute mark, Donnelly made a kick save on a sharp-angled shot at the right post, but Lafayette was able to keep the ball alive, and eventually Riley Dowd scored on a redirect from close range.
Donnelly was called upon for saves in the 81st, 85th and 87th minutes, giving her seven saves in the second half alone. The Bison had to deal with a couple of dangerous restarts in the final five minutes but were up to the task.
Lafayette finished with a 17-8 shot advantage as Bucknell played most of the game with the lead. The Leopards led 5-2 in corner kicks, but the difference was Donnelly's 10 saves compared to two stops for Lafayette's goalkeeper tandem.
Bucknell improved to 22-7-2 all-time against Lafayette but avenged a home loss to the Leopards last season. That snapped Bucknell's 16-game series unbeaten streak (14-0-2).
The Bison return home next Saturday to face Boston University at 1 p.m. The defending Patriot League champion Terriers were 4-1 winners over American in their conference opener.
Team Stats
BUCKNELL
LAFAYETT
Goals
2
1
Shots
8
17
Shots on Goal
4
11
Saves
10
2
Corners
2
5
Fouls
12
9
Scoring Plays
Gearhart, Abby
BUCKNELL Gearhart, Abby PENALTY KICK GOAL.
17:33
Christakos, Chloe
Assisted By: Gearhart, Abby
header from left side from free kick by
18:43
Dowd, Riley
Assisted By: Kissell, Krista , Butler, Katie
rebound to kissell pass to dowd for goal
78:08
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerM
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