Saturday, September 18
Lewisburg, Pa.
2 p.m.
Bucknell University
4-4-1, 1-0-0PL
4
vs
2
Navy
4-4-1, 0-1-0PL
1
2
F
Navy
0
2
2
Bucknell
2
2
4
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Women’s Soccer Off to Great Start in Patriot League Play After 4-2 Win over Navy
9/18/2021 5:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Junior Rylee Donaldson scored her Patriot League-leading fourth and fifth goals of the season, and freshmen Kelley Francis and Teresa Deda also entered the scoring column as the Bucknell women's soccer team opened Patriot League play with a 4-2 win over two-time defending champion Navy on Saturday afternoon at Emmitt Field.
The Bison have been much more dangerous in the attacking end this season, and on Saturday they entertained a large Family Weekend crowd by matching their team record for goals against Navy. In 33 previous series meetings, Bucknell's only other four-goal game against Navy came in a wild 4-3 home win in 2005. Navy had not conceded that many goals in a game since a 4-2 loss to Penn in 2018, and the last time the Mids allowed four to a Patriot League opponent was that game in Lewisburg 16 years ago.
"I am so proud of our group today," said head coach Kelly Cook. "Our attack was really connected right from the start. We are developing some good chemistry there. We had some very good build-ups and our attackers are becoming consistent threats. Getting three points to start league play is huge, but we've got to be ready to go again on Wednesday."
This one could not have started any better for the Bison, who were the aggressors right from the opening whistle and were rewarded with a goal just 3:52 into the match.
Abby Gearhart played a long diagonal ball over the Navy back line, and Donaldson collected and scored from the right side of the area. It was Donaldson's fourth tally of the season and gave her sole possession of the Patriot League goal-scoring lead.
Donaldson nearly had another just six minutes later, but her shot from a similar spot flashed wide of the left post. In the 18th minute, Donaldson beat two defenders along the right flank, and her hard cross just missed connecting with Gearhart on the back post.
Jenna Hall had one tricky save in the opening half, punching Katie Herrmann's rising shot over the bar.
In the 25th minute, Bucknell made it 2-0, with the goal coming from a substitute who had been on the field for a matter of seconds. Francis subbed in just before a corner kick, and from that scrum in the box Gearhart headed a ball down to Francis, who scored with her first touch of the game from inside the six.
In the final five minutes of the half, Francis did well to keep a ball alive in the box. She fed Gearhart for a goal, but it was wiped out on an offsides call.
Navy's Alexa Riddle just missed in the opening minute of the second half, and soon after it was Donaldson finishing off her brace. Teresa Deda sent in Donaldson, who cut back centrally and fired past Mattie Gallagher for her fifth of the season and a 3-0 lead.
The Mids pulled one back three minutes later when Caitlin Doran ran on to Gallagher's long punt and finished the breakaway. Doran hit the crossbar and Chloe Dawson had a goal wiped off due to offsides, and then Navy finally made it 3-2 on an own goal in the 82nd minute. Doran's cross from the end line bounced in off the chest of a Bison defender.
Navy seemed to have all the momentum while pushing for a stunning comeback, but the Bison had other ideas as Deda picked a great time to score her first collegiate goal. Deda carried the ball all the way into the Navy box on a counter and held up for a moment before finding space to thread a shot inside the left post. Deda now has a goal to go with her Patriot League-high six assists.
Bucknell outshot Navy 17-10 and had an 8-3 edge in corner kicks. Both goalkeepers made four saves.
The Bison are right back in action on Wednesday at home against American at 7 p.m.
Gallery: (9-18-2021) Women's Soccer vs. Navy
The Bison have been much more dangerous in the attacking end this season, and on Saturday they entertained a large Family Weekend crowd by matching their team record for goals against Navy. In 33 previous series meetings, Bucknell's only other four-goal game against Navy came in a wild 4-3 home win in 2005. Navy had not conceded that many goals in a game since a 4-2 loss to Penn in 2018, and the last time the Mids allowed four to a Patriot League opponent was that game in Lewisburg 16 years ago.
"I am so proud of our group today," said head coach Kelly Cook. "Our attack was really connected right from the start. We are developing some good chemistry there. We had some very good build-ups and our attackers are becoming consistent threats. Getting three points to start league play is huge, but we've got to be ready to go again on Wednesday."
This one could not have started any better for the Bison, who were the aggressors right from the opening whistle and were rewarded with a goal just 3:52 into the match.
Let's see Rylee Donaldson's league-leading 4th goal of the season! #rayBucknell
— Bucknell WSoccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) September 18, 2021
Watch live here on ESPN+: https://t.co/oM2dkyIjaR pic.twitter.com/NrN2djOLkA
Abby Gearhart played a long diagonal ball over the Navy back line, and Donaldson collected and scored from the right side of the area. It was Donaldson's fourth tally of the season and gave her sole possession of the Patriot League goal-scoring lead.
Donaldson nearly had another just six minutes later, but her shot from a similar spot flashed wide of the left post. In the 18th minute, Donaldson beat two defenders along the right flank, and her hard cross just missed connecting with Gearhart on the back post.
Jenna Hall had one tricky save in the opening half, punching Katie Herrmann's rising shot over the bar.
In the 25th minute, Bucknell made it 2-0, with the goal coming from a substitute who had been on the field for a matter of seconds. Francis subbed in just before a corner kick, and from that scrum in the box Gearhart headed a ball down to Francis, who scored with her first touch of the game from inside the six.
In the final five minutes of the half, Francis did well to keep a ball alive in the box. She fed Gearhart for a goal, but it was wiped out on an offsides call.
Navy's Alexa Riddle just missed in the opening minute of the second half, and soon after it was Donaldson finishing off her brace. Teresa Deda sent in Donaldson, who cut back centrally and fired past Mattie Gallagher for her fifth of the season and a 3-0 lead.
The Mids pulled one back three minutes later when Caitlin Doran ran on to Gallagher's long punt and finished the breakaway. Doran hit the crossbar and Chloe Dawson had a goal wiped off due to offsides, and then Navy finally made it 3-2 on an own goal in the 82nd minute. Doran's cross from the end line bounced in off the chest of a Bison defender.
Navy seemed to have all the momentum while pushing for a stunning comeback, but the Bison had other ideas as Deda picked a great time to score her first collegiate goal. Deda carried the ball all the way into the Navy box on a counter and held up for a moment before finding space to thread a shot inside the left post. Deda now has a goal to go with her Patriot League-high six assists.
Bucknell outshot Navy 17-10 and had an 8-3 edge in corner kicks. Both goalkeepers made four saves.
The Bison are right back in action on Wednesday at home against American at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
NAVY
BUCKNELL
Goals
2
4
Shots
10
17
Shots on Goal
6
8
Saves
4
4
Corners
3
8
Fouls
4
10
Scoring Plays
Donaldson, Rylee (4)
Assisted By: Gearhart, Abby
12 plays long ball over top to 5, finish
3:52
Francis, Kelley (3)
Assisted By: Gearhart, Abby
Corner kick scramble, 12 heads it down t
24:43
Donaldson, Rylee (5)
Assisted By: Deda, Teresa
21 plays in 5, cuts back inside and scor
56:12
Doran, Caitlin (4)
Assisted By: Gallagher, Mattie
Clean breakaway off GK punt
59:33
TEAM
Cross in from 9 goes in off Bucknell def
81:10
Deda, Teresa (1)
21 holds at top of 18, finds space and f
85:24
Game Leaders
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
2
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
GK
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