Bucknell University
(1-2)
Villanova
(2-1)
Field Hockey Drops Road Game at Villanova, 3-1
9/3/2021 9:01:00 PM | Field Hockey
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – Rookie Lily Neilson scored late in the third quarter of Friday's road game at Villanova to cut the Wildcats' lead to 2-1, but a fourth quarter Villanova goal put the comeback out of reach as the Bucknell field hockey team fell 3-1. With the loss, Bucknell moved to 1-2 on the young season.
The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with goals in the first and second quarters before Bucknell halved the deficit in the third. Villanova's Anne Drabbe put one more away in the 53rd minute to discourage the Bison resurgence.
The Bison weren't without their chances as they trailed by just one in both shots (11-10) and penalty corners (7-6). Sophomore Kari Melberger led Bucknell with three attempts at a goal, and junior goalkeeper Clara McCormick finished with three saves against six on-target Villanova shots.
Neilson collected her second goal of the season after scoring one in the 59th minute of Sunday's win over LIU.
The Wildcats were quick to strike in the contest as sophomore forward Meghan Mitchell broke open the scoring just over seven minutes in. Villanova doubled their lead five minutes into the second quarter when sophomore Sabine de Ruijter made good on a penalty corner to but the Bison behind 2-0.
With two minutes left in the third quarter, Bucknell's Erin Zielinski set Neilson up for the score on a penalty corner. Junior Maddie Rehak was also assisting on the play. It was Zielinski's second assist of the season.
The Bison fired off two more shots in the final two minutes of the third quarter and two more in the fourth but were unable to add to the scoreboard.
Bucknell remains on the road to face Temple in Philadelphia on Sunday. The Bison have won the last two matchups in the series, including a 3-1 win in 2017. Sunday's game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Mitchell, Meghan
Assisted By: Middleman, Amanda
GOAL by VU Mitchell, Meghan (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Middleman, Amanda.
7:15
De Ruijter, Sabine
Assisted By: Capalbo, Katie , Van Goeverden, C.
GOAL by VU De Ruijter, Sabine, Assist by Capalbo, Katie and Van Goeverden, C..
18:40
Lily Neilson
Assisted By: Rehak, Maddie , Zielinski, Erin
GOAL by BUCKNELL Lily Neilson, Assist by Rehak, Maddie and Zielinski, Erin.
42:51
Drabbe, Anne
Assisted By: Mitchell, Meghan
GOAL by VU Drabbe, Anne, Assist by Mitchell, Meghan.
52:39
