Bucknell University
(6-5)
Penn State
(9-3)
Field Hockey Surrenders 4-1 Decision at No. 4 Penn State
10/9/2021 7:45:00 PM | Field Hockey
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Bucknell field hockey team took on No. 4 Penn State on the road Saturday, falling 4-1 after grabbing an early lead in the contest. Mary Kate Stefanowicz scored just seven minutes into the first quarter to put the Bison up 1-0, but the Nittany Lions responded with three unanswered to seal the victory. It was Bucknell's third ranked opponent of the season and the second that it has faced in a week.
Penn State (9-3, 3-2 Big Ten) led 25-4 in shots and 6-2 in corners as the Bison offense struggled after a strong 15 minutes to begin the game. Kayla Kisthardt and Mackenzie Kile finished with points for Bucknell (6-5, 2-1 PL) as well, tallying assists on the Stefanowicz goal. Penn State's Sophia Gladieux scored three of the four goals for the Nittany Lions.
The Bison looked their best in the first quarter, attempting three of their four shots and earning one of their two penalty corners. It was on the lone corner that Bucknell seized the first lead of the game just seven minutes in. Stefanowicz scored on Bucknell's third shot of the game, giving the senior her fifth goal of the season. Kile is now second on the team with six assists, and Kisthardt now has four on the year.
Bucknell held the Nittany Lions off the board for much of the second quarter as well despite facing nine shots. With under three minutes to go in the half, Penn State tied the game when junior Mackenzie Allessie scored unassisted to even it up at 1-1.
Bucknell goalkeeper Clara McCormick made six saves on 13 shots faced over the initial 30 minutes.
The Nittany Lions wasted no time taking the lead out of the break, scoring another unassisted goal just 29 seconds into the third quarter. They added another eight minutes later to push the lead to 3-1 as the Bison went without a shot for a second consecutive quarter.
The Bison had a chance to strike again in the fourth quarter as Lily Neilson attempted a shot on a Bucknell penalty corner with under 10 minutes to go, but the Penn State keeper came up with the save. Gladieux notched her third goal of the game in the 48th minute to arrive at the 4-1 final.
McCormick finished with 13 saves on the day, including five in the final quarter. Bucknell put three of its four shots on target, and Penn State had 17 shots on goal.
Bucknell returns to Graham Field on Sunday to host Cornell at 3 p.m. Bucknell and Cornell have split the last six matchups, going back to 2010.
Team Stats
Stefanowicz, M.K.
Assisted By: Kisthardt, Kayla , Kile, Mackenzie
GOAL by BUCKNELL Stefanowicz, M.K. (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Kisthardt, Kayla and Kile, Mackenzie.
7:00
Allessie, Mackenzie
GOAL by PSU Allessie, Mackenzie.
27:14
Gladieux, Sophia
GOAL by PSU Gladieux, Sophia.
30:29
Gladieux, Sophia
Assisted By: Spisak, Emma
GOAL by PSU Gladieux, Sophia, Assist by Spisak, Emma.
38:59
Gladieux, Sophia
GOAL by PSU Gladieux, Sophia.
47:53
