Friday, August 27
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
1-1-1
1
vs
3
West Virginia
2-1-0
1
2
F
West Virginia
1
2
3
Bucknell
1
0
1
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Bucknell Women’s Soccer Puts Forth Strong Effort but #12 West Virginia Rallies for 3-1 Verdict
8/27/2021 10:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Rylee Donaldson gave Bucknell the lead with her second goal of the season 35 minutes into the match, but 12th-ranked West Virginia scored the game's final three goals on the way to a 3-1 decision on Friday night at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.
The Bison played very well in all phases for most of the night, but an unlucky sequence led to a game-changing penalty kick that gave the Mountaineers the lead in the 59th minute.
"I loved our mentality tonight," said head coach Kelly Cook. "We had a game plan going in, the team had a great belief and it really showed. We focused a lot this week on 1v1 defending, and that was much improved tonight. We were very composed on the ball, and I was proud of how we competed from the opening whistle to the end."
Bucknell, now 1-1-1 on the young season, got out to a spirited start in this one and nearly opened the scoring just three minutes into the match. Petie Nassetta played a long ball over the top to Abby Gearhart, who raced in on a breakaway. A West Virginia defender made contact with Gearhart from behind as she wound up to shoot, and the ball skipped wide of the goal and a corner kick was awarded.
Not long after that early chance, the game was halted for 35 minutes due to lightning in the area, but the delay did not dampen Bucknell's inspired play. About 12 minutes after the action resumed, Teresa Deda spotted West Virginia goalkeeper Kayza Massey off her line and didn't miss by much with a 40-yard attempt.
The Bison made their well-deserved breakthrough with exactly 10 minutes left in the first half, and it all started with goalkeeper Jenna Hall at the other end of the pitch. Hall went up high to nab a Mountaineers corner kick, and then she boomed a punt nearly to the opposite 18. Gearhart outran a defender for control of the ball and slipped a pass to a streaking Donaldson, who beat the keeper to her left for the opening goal. It was Donaldson's second goal of the season, both assisted by Gearhart, and Hall was also credited with an assist on the play.
Bucknell's lead lasted only 2:31, however, as West Virginia quickly equalized. Substitute Abby Rodriguez finished a cross from Lilly McCarthy after Leah Sparacio chased down a loose ball by the left corner flag.
Bucknell had a 5-4 shot advantage as the game went to intermission even at 1-1. The Bison averted a crisis five minutes into the second stanza, as Hall got a piece of Juliana Lynch's point-blank attempt, and then Deda cleaned it up with a header off the line.
About nine minutes later, Julianne Vallerand stopped short with her back to goal along the left side of the penalty area as a Bison defender ran up her back. The penalty was awarded, and Jordan Brewster scored from the spot even as Hall got her mitts on the attempt.
Bucknell earned a free kick just outside the 18 in the 66th minute, but Deda's attempt just sailed wide. Six minutes later, West Virginia found an insurance goal on a nifty move from Vallerand, who changed direction twice before finding the back of the net.
Hall tallied six saves for the Bison, who were outshot 13-7 on the night.
After opening the season with three straight home games, Bucknell hits the road for the first time on Sunday with a 1 p.m. match at MAAC preseason favorite Monmouth. The Hawks are 3-0 on the season and have yet to concede a goal against Lehigh, NJIT and Delaware.
The Bison played very well in all phases for most of the night, but an unlucky sequence led to a game-changing penalty kick that gave the Mountaineers the lead in the 59th minute.
"I loved our mentality tonight," said head coach Kelly Cook. "We had a game plan going in, the team had a great belief and it really showed. We focused a lot this week on 1v1 defending, and that was much improved tonight. We were very composed on the ball, and I was proud of how we competed from the opening whistle to the end."
Bucknell, now 1-1-1 on the young season, got out to a spirited start in this one and nearly opened the scoring just three minutes into the match. Petie Nassetta played a long ball over the top to Abby Gearhart, who raced in on a breakaway. A West Virginia defender made contact with Gearhart from behind as she wound up to shoot, and the ball skipped wide of the goal and a corner kick was awarded.
Not long after that early chance, the game was halted for 35 minutes due to lightning in the area, but the delay did not dampen Bucknell's inspired play. About 12 minutes after the action resumed, Teresa Deda spotted West Virginia goalkeeper Kayza Massey off her line and didn't miss by much with a 40-yard attempt.
The Bison made their well-deserved breakthrough with exactly 10 minutes left in the first half, and it all started with goalkeeper Jenna Hall at the other end of the pitch. Hall went up high to nab a Mountaineers corner kick, and then she boomed a punt nearly to the opposite 18. Gearhart outran a defender for control of the ball and slipped a pass to a streaking Donaldson, who beat the keeper to her left for the opening goal. It was Donaldson's second goal of the season, both assisted by Gearhart, and Hall was also credited with an assist on the play.
Here's a look at the Bison goal against WVU tonight. It all started on a booming punt from Jenna Hall to a streaking Abby Gearhart, and then Abby with a delicate touch to Rylee Donaldson for a clinical finish. Great goal. #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/PGmYlcjykN
— Bucknell WSoccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) August 28, 2021
Bucknell's lead lasted only 2:31, however, as West Virginia quickly equalized. Substitute Abby Rodriguez finished a cross from Lilly McCarthy after Leah Sparacio chased down a loose ball by the left corner flag.
Bucknell had a 5-4 shot advantage as the game went to intermission even at 1-1. The Bison averted a crisis five minutes into the second stanza, as Hall got a piece of Juliana Lynch's point-blank attempt, and then Deda cleaned it up with a header off the line.
About nine minutes later, Julianne Vallerand stopped short with her back to goal along the left side of the penalty area as a Bison defender ran up her back. The penalty was awarded, and Jordan Brewster scored from the spot even as Hall got her mitts on the attempt.
Bucknell earned a free kick just outside the 18 in the 66th minute, but Deda's attempt just sailed wide. Six minutes later, West Virginia found an insurance goal on a nifty move from Vallerand, who changed direction twice before finding the back of the net.
Hall tallied six saves for the Bison, who were outshot 13-7 on the night.
After opening the season with three straight home games, Bucknell hits the road for the first time on Sunday with a 1 p.m. match at MAAC preseason favorite Monmouth. The Hawks are 3-0 on the season and have yet to concede a goal against Lehigh, NJIT and Delaware.
Team Stats
WVU
BUCKNELL
Goals
3
1
Shots
13
7
Shots on Goal
9
2
Saves
1
6
Corners
6
2
Fouls
11
11
Scoring Plays
Donaldson, Rylee (2)
Assisted By: Gearhart, Abby , Hall, Jenna
Long goal kick settled by 12, played int
35:00
Rodriguez, Abby (1)
Assisted By: McCarthy, Lilly , Sparacio, Leah
Volley from cross in from left
37:31
Brewster, Jordan (1)
WVU Brewster, Jordan PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 1 for season.
58:32
Vallerand, Julianne (2)
26 weaves thru traffic in the box, finis
72:11
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerGK
/ Women's Soccer
M
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