Bucknell Field Hockey Drops Season Opener to Colgate, 2-1

Sunday, March 7

Lewisburg, Pa.

1 p.m.

Bucknell University

(0-1, 0-1PL)

Colgate

(1-0, 1-0PL)

COLGATE

BUCKNELL

Bucknell Field Hockey Drops Season Opener to Colgate, 2-1

3/7/2021 3:12:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell freshman Kari Melberger notched her first collegiate goal to tie the game in the third quarter, but Mari Kniezewski answered for Colgate just over a minute later, sending the Raiders to a 2-1 victory over the Bison in the 2020-21 season opener for both teams.

Bucknell controlled possession for most of the day and finished with a 15-3 edge in shots and a 9-1 advantage in penalty corners, but Colgate goalkeeper Anna Unger had a huge day with 11 saves.

Colgate struck first 9:12 into the match when Meghan Minturn scored on a redirect in front of the cage on a ball in from Kniezewski. The goal came on the Raiders' lone shot of the first half, and the visitors took that 1-0 edge into the break thanks to six saves from Unger.

Bucknell finally got one across the goal line with just inside five minutes to play in the third period. After several touches inside the circle, Mackenzie Kile pushed the ball forward toward the back post, and Melberger finished for her first Bucknell tally.

The game was only even for 66 seconds, however, as Kniezewski scored off a feed from Ella Murphy with 3:30 left in the period.

Early in the fourth quarter Payton Kenney got off two quick shots from in tight on the left side of goal, but both were turned aside by Unger. Colgate defended well for the remainder of the period, but the Bison did earn a corner with 59 seconds remaining. Sarah Dimock's initial drive was saved, Rachel Apa gathered the rebound but her follow-up attempt went wide of the cage.

Kile led the Bison with three shot attempts, while Leah Fogelsanger, Apa, Melberger and Kenney attempted two apiece.

Both Bison goalies saw action, with Clara McCormick playing in the first half and Peyton Fischer coming on for the second half. Fischer collected a save off a shot from Carter Leahy.

Bucknell returns to action next Sunday when it visits American at 2 p.m.