Thursday, November 3
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
8-5-5
0
vs
0
Boston University (PL Semifinals)
11-8-1
1
2
3
4
F
Boston University
0
0
0
0
0
Bucknell
0
0
0
0
0
Photo by: Ben Popko
Women’s Soccer Outlasts Boston University in Penalty Kicks to Advance to Patriot League Championship Match
11/3/2022 11:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – After 110 minutes of scoreless but action-packed play, senior Rylee Donaldson converted the decisive penalty kick to send the Bucknell women's soccer team back to the Patriot League championship match. The defending-champion Bison edged third-seeded Boston University 4-3 in the shootout and will move on to face top-seeded Army in the final on Sunday at 2 p.m. at West Point.
Jenna Hall, who received her Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year award prior to the match, made seven saves on the way to her eighth shutout of the season, and she even chipped in with a goal in the shootout.
After both teams missed in the first round of PKs, Margy Porta put Boston University on the board first before Hall placed her shot into the top right corner. Amy Thompson and Teresa Deda hit the back of the net in round three, but in the top of the fourth Abigail McNulty's attempt squarely hit the crossbar.
Freshman Meghan White calmly converted to give the Bison the advantage. Jenna Oldham tied it at 3-3 to start round five, and then Donaldson, the 2021 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, took a slow walk to the penalty spot and buried the winning shot to the right of goalkeeper Gretchen Bennett.
The large student crowd stormed the field, sending the Bison off to the final for the seventh time. Bucknell was a 1-0 winner at Boston University in last year's title match.
"Great effort tonight for 110 minutes," said head coach Kelly Cook. "A lot of people stepped up in big ways. We had a couple of really good opportunities but just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. We practiced PKs for weeks just for this moment, to have players step up under pressure and connect on their PKs. I couldn't be prouder of the group and all the work they have put in."
There were no goals scored during the 110 minutes of play, despite a combined 32 shots. It was an evenly played first half, with both teams taking seven shots and both goalkeepers making five saves.
The Bison (8-5-5) had a good chance to win it late in regulation when Henna Andican picked the pocket of a Terriers center back and sent Donaldson in alone, but Bennett came out to make the save.
Boston University (11-8-1) earned a corner kick with 22 seconds remaining, with the referee stopping the clock to allow the corner to be taken. That almost worked in Bucknell's favor, as Hannah Stuck headed away the initial service, and then White took off with the ball in space down the right flank. With the clock inside five seconds, White squared a pass to Sydney Hess in the box, but she could not get a final shot away.
Bucknell took all five shots in the two 10-minute overtime periods. Bennett made the save of the night in the 107th minute, diving to the near post as Abby Gearhart broke in alone from the right side.
The Bison finished with a 21-11 shot advantage and led 11-7 in corner kicks. The Boston University goalkeeper duo of Celia Braun (5) and Bennett (6) combined for 11 saves.
Hall now has eight shutouts for the second year in a row, the third-highest single-season total in team history. She also moved into sole possession of second place on the Bucknell career list with 16 clean sheets, four shy of Jessica Ratner's school record.
Bucknell is now 2-2 all-time in penalty kick shootouts. The Bison advanced past Lehigh in the 2005 semifinals on the way to the league title, and they were eliminated in PKs by Army in the 2008 semis and Colgate in the 2013 quarterfinals.
The Bison head to West Point unbeaten in their last seven matches (3-0-4), with only two goals conceded in that span. Bucknell and Army played a scoreless draw at Emmitt Field on Oct. 22.
Army was a 2-0 winner over Lehigh in the other semifinal match on Thursday, setting up a clash of the top two seeds on Sunday. The championship game starts at 2 p.m. and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Jenna Hall, who received her Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year award prior to the match, made seven saves on the way to her eighth shutout of the season, and she even chipped in with a goal in the shootout.
After both teams missed in the first round of PKs, Margy Porta put Boston University on the board first before Hall placed her shot into the top right corner. Amy Thompson and Teresa Deda hit the back of the net in round three, but in the top of the fourth Abigail McNulty's attempt squarely hit the crossbar.
Freshman Meghan White calmly converted to give the Bison the advantage. Jenna Oldham tied it at 3-3 to start round five, and then Donaldson, the 2021 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, took a slow walk to the penalty spot and buried the winning shot to the right of goalkeeper Gretchen Bennett.
The large student crowd stormed the field, sending the Bison off to the final for the seventh time. Bucknell was a 1-0 winner at Boston University in last year's title match.
"𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰."
— Bucknell Women's Soccer (@Bucknell_WSOC) November 4, 2022
Rylee Donaldson sends the Bison to the Patriot League final and triggers a proper pitch storming from the great crowd tonight at Emmitt Field. #rayBucknell @PatriotLeagueTV | @NCAASoccer | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/NNKKmCaECf
"Great effort tonight for 110 minutes," said head coach Kelly Cook. "A lot of people stepped up in big ways. We had a couple of really good opportunities but just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. We practiced PKs for weeks just for this moment, to have players step up under pressure and connect on their PKs. I couldn't be prouder of the group and all the work they have put in."
There were no goals scored during the 110 minutes of play, despite a combined 32 shots. It was an evenly played first half, with both teams taking seven shots and both goalkeepers making five saves.
The Bison (8-5-5) had a good chance to win it late in regulation when Henna Andican picked the pocket of a Terriers center back and sent Donaldson in alone, but Bennett came out to make the save.
Boston University (11-8-1) earned a corner kick with 22 seconds remaining, with the referee stopping the clock to allow the corner to be taken. That almost worked in Bucknell's favor, as Hannah Stuck headed away the initial service, and then White took off with the ball in space down the right flank. With the clock inside five seconds, White squared a pass to Sydney Hess in the box, but she could not get a final shot away.
Bucknell took all five shots in the two 10-minute overtime periods. Bennett made the save of the night in the 107th minute, diving to the near post as Abby Gearhart broke in alone from the right side.
The Bison finished with a 21-11 shot advantage and led 11-7 in corner kicks. The Boston University goalkeeper duo of Celia Braun (5) and Bennett (6) combined for 11 saves.
Hall now has eight shutouts for the second year in a row, the third-highest single-season total in team history. She also moved into sole possession of second place on the Bucknell career list with 16 clean sheets, four shy of Jessica Ratner's school record.
Bucknell is now 2-2 all-time in penalty kick shootouts. The Bison advanced past Lehigh in the 2005 semifinals on the way to the league title, and they were eliminated in PKs by Army in the 2008 semis and Colgate in the 2013 quarterfinals.
The Bison head to West Point unbeaten in their last seven matches (3-0-4), with only two goals conceded in that span. Bucknell and Army played a scoreless draw at Emmitt Field on Oct. 22.
Army was a 2-0 winner over Lehigh in the other semifinal match on Thursday, setting up a clash of the top two seeds on Sunday. The championship game starts at 2 p.m. and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Team Stats
BU
BUCKNELL
Goals
0
0
Shots
11
21
Shots on Goal
7
11
Saves
11
7
Corners
7
11
Fouls
10
15
Game Leaders
Shots
6
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
4
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
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