Bucknell University
(0-1)
James Madison
(1-0)
Bison Field Hockey Falls 3-0 to No. 24 James Madison in Season Opener
8/27/2021 7:39:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell field hockey team opened its 2021 season with a 3-0 loss to 24th-ranked James Madison at Graham Field on Friday. The Dukes scored a pair of goals in the first nine minutes of the contest before Bucknell settled down defensively. Another James Madison goal came just before the third quarter ended, stretching the deficit to three and moving the Bison to 0-1 to begin the new season.
James Madison's Eveline Zwager accounted for two of the three goals, and defender Sarah Beers notched the third. Bucknell outshot the Dukes in two of four quarters, but were ultimately outpaced 14-7 in the category. Sophomore Gugulethu Sibanda and senior Mary Kate Stefanowicz combined for four of the Bison's seven shots.
Bucknell goalkeeper Clara McCormick totaled six saves, including one on a James Madison penalty stroke in the fifth minute of the game.
"The first game you try to learn something and take something away from your opposition. It's great for us because they're a top 20 team for sure," said head coach Jeremy Cook. "We had great moments, and we had moments we were very competitive with them, and we had some moments when our inexperience and our youth really showed. Hopefully there's lots of learning out of that instead of hung heads."
Less than a minute after JMU's first-quarter penalty stroke, Zwager scored the first goal of the contest on an empty cage after McCormick attempted a sliding save on the initial pressure coming from the far side. Zwager struck again less than three minutes later, sneaking one between McCormick's legs to push the advantage to two.
Bucknell saw chances on a pair of penalty corners during the first half, but the Bison were unable to convert.
The Bison came out aggressive in the third quarter and saw back-to-back shots from Stefanowicz and Kari Melberger off a corner opportunity in the initial six minutes, but it was the Dukes that posted an insurance goal with under 30 seconds to play in the quarter.
Trailing by three, Bucknell outshot James Madison 3-2 in the final frame. Sibanda made back-to-back attempts at a goal in the 55th minute, hitting the crossbar with one of her shots.
Emily Harrison, Rachel Yeager and Courtney Lynch tallied assists for the Dukes.
The Bison return to play on Sunday when they host LIU at Graham Field. Sunday's game is set to begin at noon and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Zwager, Eveline (1)
Assisted By: Harrison, Emily
GOAL by JMU Zwager, Eveline (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Harrison, Emily, goal number 1 for season.
5:43
Zwager, Eveline (2)
GOAL by JMU Zwager, Eveline, goal number 2 for season.
8:37
Beers, Sarah (1)
Assisted By: Yeager, Rachel , Lynch, Courtney
GOAL by JMU Beers, Sarah, Assist by Yeager, Rachel and Lynch, Courtney, goal number 1 for season.
44:32
