Bucknell University
(4-2 (1-0PL))
Holy Cross
(2-3 (0-1PL))
Neilson's School-Record Five Goals Propel Bucknell Field Hockey to 7-2 Win over Holy Cross
9/18/2021 2:24:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell rookie Lily Neilson scored a school-record five goals in three quarters, and senior Erin Zielinski tied a program record with three assists to guide the Bison field hockey team to a massive 7-2 victory over Holy Cross in the team's Patriot League opener on Saturday.
Neilson, who now leads the team with seven goals on the season, eclipsed the four-goal mark that hadn't been reached by a Bison since 1999. She also tied the Patriot League single-game goals record and single-game points record, which were set by Lafayette's Suzi Farrell in 1990. The seven goals by the Bison are the most they've scored in a game since posting eight in a win over Lehigh in 2019.
Four of Bucknell's seven goals were scored on penalty corners, which the Bison saw a season-high 13 of on the day. Sophomores Rachel Apa and Gugulethu Sibanda also found the back of the cage in the win. Bucknell totaled 17 points in the contest as four different players registered assists, and three finished with multiple.
With the win, Bucknell improves to 4-2 on the season and 1-0 in league play. Holy Cross, which was led by senior Caitlin Little's two goals, falls to 2-3 (0-1 PL). The Crusaders attempted six shots, putting five on target.
Bucknell wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Apa scored on the first penalty corner of the contest in just the second minute of action, receiving an assist from junior Mackenzie Kile. The Bison struck again just before the end of the first on another corner attempt when Neilson blasted a shot from the top of the circle for her first score of the game to make it 2-0. Kile was assisting again on the play, and Kayla Kisthardt earned a point on the goal as well.
The Neilson goals came fast and furious during the second frame as the New South Wales, Australia native tallied a hat trick in the quarter alone, scoring in the 24th, 26th, and 28th minutes. Erin Zielinski assisted on all three second-quarter goals. Neilson fired all three from the top of the circle, giving the Bison a healthy 5-1 lead going into halftime. Maddie Rehak assisted on two of the second-quarter goals as well. Neilson's fourth goal, a reverse stick blast from the top of the arc with under three minutes to play in the half, tied the previous Bucknell record that had been achieved six times prior, but only once since 1978.
By the midway point in the contest, the Bison had racked up 17 shots and 11 penalty corner chances.
Neilson broke the Bucknell record 11 minutes into the second half, carrying the ball into the circle unassisted and shooting through traffic to make it a 6-1 Bison lead. The Orange & Blue added one final goal nearly seven minutes later when Sibanda fired one off on the rebound from Apa's shot that was initially saved by the Holy Cross keeper. It was the first goal of Sibanda's career.
The Crusaders found the back of the cage once more as well, as Little converted on a corner in the 53rd minute of action to arrive at the 7-2 final.
A school-record 5⃣ goals for number 1⃣2⃣. Big congrats to Lily Neilson! It's a great day to be a Bison! 🔶🔷#rayBucknell 🏑 pic.twitter.com/QQ3Kt7GRqJ
— Bucknell FieldHockey (@Bucknell_FH) September 18, 2021
Bucknell junior goalkeeper Clara McCormick finished with one save and one goal allowed, as did senior Peyton Fischer, who played the final 15 minutes of the contest. Holy Cross keepers Brooke Ross and Emma Lauber posted five saves apiece.
Neilson's eight shots led all players, and Apa was second with five. Zielinski, whose three-assist mark was last matched by Brittany Willwerth in 2018, now has six on the season. Bucknell has now won four in a row over the Crusaders and six in a row over Patriot League opponents dating back to last season.
Bucknell is back at Graham Field on Sunday to host Sacred Heart at 1 p.m. Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Apa, Rachel (1)
Assisted By: Kile, Mackenzie
Penalty corner, 21 keeps ball, centers f
1:31
Lily Neilson (3)
Assisted By: Kile, Mackenzie , Kisthardt, Kayla
Blast from top of circle off penalty cor
14:38
Little,Caitlin (1)
Assisted By: Walsh,Sinead
Shot from left slot off penalty corner
22:19
Lily Neilson (4)
Assisted By: Zielinski, Erin , Rehak, Maddie
Shot from top of circle off penalty corn
23:16
Lily Neilson (5)
Assisted By: Zielinski, Erin , Rehak, Maddie
Shot from top of circle off penalty corn
25:32
Lily Neilson (6)
Assisted By: Zielinski, Erin
Reverse stick blast from top of arc
27:21
Lily Neilson (7)
Carried ball into circle, shot thru traf
41:33
Sibanda, Gugulethu (1)
11's shot saved, 9 bats in rebound from
48:14
Little,Caitlin (1)
Assisted By: Watson,Lily
Shot thru traffic of corner
52:02
