Bucknell University
(6-3)
VCU
(9-1)
Bucknell Field Hockey Advances to NCAA Quarterfinals with 2-1 Double-Overtime Win over VCU
4/30/2021 4:14:00 PM | Field Hockey
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Bucknell field hockey team came away victorious in the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament game on Friday, defeating the undefeated VCU Rams 2-1 in double-overtime to advance to the quarterfinal round. Mary Kate Stefanowicz scored on a penalty corner with 13.5 seconds left in the second overtime for her second goal of the game to give the Bison their sixth consecutive victory.
Bucknell regrouped after falling behind 1-0 in the second quarter and scored the game-tying goal in the third to preserve the game. After neither team could find the back of the net in the fourth quarter or the first overtime, Stefanowicz scored the game-winner in the 79th minute off a Rachel Apa assist. The two goals were the first of the junior's career.
VCU outshot Bucknell 17-7 for the game and put four more shots on target than the Bison. Bucknell goalkeeper Clara McCormick finished with eight saves in the contest.
"I'm just thrilled. It's been an incredible ride with this group. We started 0-3, and here we are in the elite eight. We're still over the moon and still crazy excited to be on this ride," said head coach Jeremy Cook.
Bucknell will now face No. 2 seed Michigan at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex on Sunday, May 2 at noon.
The Rams jumped out in front first in the game when VCU junior Litiana Field received a pass during a penalty corner and snuck it between McCormick's pad and the left post. The goal came with just under four minutes to play in the first half. The Rams outshot Bucknell 7-2 in the first half and saw three penalty corners to Bucknell's one.
Bucknell's best chance over the first 30 minutes came on its lone penalty corner during the first quarter when Kayla Kisthardt sent a shot just wide of the goal.
The Bison ramped up the pressure in the third quarter, but they still only managed two shots to VCU's three. It was on the first shot, however, that the Bison found the equalizer in the 37th minute. Sophomore Noor Kaur inserted a penalty corner and got it to fellow sophomore Mackenzie Kile at the top of the shooting circle. Kile left the ball for Stefanowicz, who fired a hard shot that skated past a pair of Ram defenders and just beyond the goalkeeper's outstretched leg.
3rd | Bison tie it up!
— Bucknell FieldHockey (@Bucknell_FH) April 30, 2021
M.K. scores on a penalty corner to even us up at 1-1. 2:22 left to play in the third quarter. #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/GqMhuyYJ0p
Following a scoreless fourth quarter, Bucknell headed to overtime for the third time in as many games and for the fourth time this season.
In the second overtime, VCU nearly ended Bucknell's season in the 75th minute as the Bison were down a player due to a green card. On a penalty corner, the Rams fired a shot that ricocheted off McCormick and hit the post. It was VCU's last shot of the contest.
As the seconds ran off the clock it looked like the Bison would head to a shootout for the second time in three games. With only 13.5 seconds remaining, Stefanowicz scored the game winner to send the Bison to the next round.
Here's a look at the goal that gave us our first NCAA Tournament victory! #rayBucknell 🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/ssYPIMGf0B
— Bucknell FieldHockey (@Bucknell_FH) April 30, 2021
"The battle was with a really talented, really hard-working team that controlled their spaces really well against a team like ours that tried to create bigger spaces and move the ball, and then force VCU to react by chasing us around a little bit," said Cook. "We did just enough of it. That game could have gone either way. They hit the post with two minutes to go. We just feel really fortunate and thankful for all the opportunities we've had to play."
Bucknell's matchup with Michigan will be the third in the all-time series, with the Wolverines holding a 2-0 edge. Michigan went 13-2 in the regular season and 6-0 in the Big Ten.
Team Stats
FIELD, Litiana
Assisted By: STURM, Svea , WETZEL, Janne
GOAL by VCU FIELD, Litiana (FIRST GOAL), Assist by STURM, Svea and WETZEL, Janne.
26:52
Stefanowicz, M.K.
Assisted By: Kaur, Noor , Kile, Mackenzie
GOAL by BUCKNELL Stefanowicz, M.K., Assist by Kaur, Noor and Kile, Mackenzie.
36:11
Stefanowicz, M.K.
Assisted By: Apa, Rachel
GOAL by BUCKNELL Stefanowicz, M.K., Assist by Apa, Rachel.
79:47
